History made in Ballina as Convent of Mercy is gifted to local community

HISTORY has been made in Ballina after the Sisters of Mercy gifted their convent building to the local community.

The Sisters of Mercy, Western Province, who first came to Ballina in 1851, have entrusted the building to the Ballina Convent Regeneration CLG.

Work has already begun to restore the building with a view to reopening it as a community facility.

It is hoped that, by the end of 2024, a Christmas service can be held in the Old Chapel of the Convent, as well as reopening the dining room as a community and event space.

The building closed in December 2008 following the departure of the nuns and has since deteriorated to due water ingress, rot and mould.

Over the past two years, the Sisters have worked with the community of Ballina to discuss possible routes to revive the convent from its current condition, with the hopes of it being returned to use as an asset for the town, continuing the Sisters’ mission.

Following detailed discussions, the Sisters have made the generous decision to gift the convent building to a newly formed charity, Ballina Convent Regeneration CLG.

This charity includes community and church representation with Fr Aidan O’Boyle, Pat Flynn, Vincent Lang and Mark Duffy serving as voluntary directors.

Sister Breege O’Neill, Provincial Leader for the Mercy Western Province said, hailed the transfer of the building as ‘a new and exciting chapter in the development of Ballina’.

“It is with joy and hope that we the Sisters of Mercy, Western Province, entrust the Convent of Mercy building to the people of Ballina and surrounding area,” she stated.

“We pay tribute to the dreams, enthusiasm and dedication of the Ballina Convent Regeneration Company who have embarked on the restoration of this building. We look forward to the completion of the project when the convent doors will open once more to contribute to a new and exciting chapter in the development of Ballina.”

Upon arriving in Ballina in following the Great Famine, the local the humanitarian situation was dire, with disease, unemployment, mass emigration and extremely low levels of access to education and healthcare.

The Sisters of Mercy went to work and by the December 5 of that year, had taken charge of the female national school, where 4 Sisters taught 350 students.

By May of 1867, having secured a site from the Bourke Family, the convent of the Immaculate Conception, All Hallows, opened its doors for the first time on McDermott Street.

The Sisters were instrumental in the delivery of various ambitious projects including the opening of S Joseph’s hospital as well as Scoil Íosa primary school and St Mary’s secondary school.

Bishop of Killala, John Fleming, paid tribute to the contribution made by the local Sister of Mercy to the Ballina area.

“The Sisters have made an incredible contribution to the town of Ballina. This project will celebrate their story and help use it as a continued force for good in our community of Ballina,” said Bishop Fleming.

In a joint-statement, local county councillors Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) and Cllr Mark Duffy (Independent) thanked the Sisters of Mercy to entrusting the building to the people of Ballina.  

“This is an exciting new chapter in the development of community infrastructure, and we look forward to hearing your ideas, proposals and suggestions for how this building can best serve the community of Ballina and North Mayo. We hope that everyone can get behind this ambitious project,” said Cllrs Duffy and Reape.

The current priorities for the convent are the repair and replacement of roofs, gutters and damaged windows, along with full electrical and heating upgrades and general enhancements.

The old St Mary’s Secondary School (nicknamed ‘The Convent’) is not part of this regeneration project and was recently listed for sale on the open market. The future use of the convent building will be determined through public consultation.

Work has already been carried out by volunteers which has had a positive impact in diverting water from overflowing gutters and allowing light into each room. This has been significant in halting the continued decline of the building.

The work has been supported by the LEADER programme for an architectural conservation plan which is being completed by Vincent Coleman with the support of Simon Beale’s architectural and engineering practice.