End of the Christian Brothers in Nenagh
160-year association with the town
The 160-year presence of the Christian Brothers in Nenagh has somewhat abruptly come to an end, with the last three Brothers vacating their Summerhill home without ceremony at the end of last year.
The Christian Brothers' long association with Nenagh began in January 1862 when three members of the congregation took up temporary residence in then Pound, now Sarsfield St. Two weeks later, they opened a school at John's Lane in a building that was originally used as a fever hospital; it is now the home of Nenagh Community Training Centre.
After two years, the Brothers adapted a section of the school building in John’s Lane and turned it into a residence for themselves. It was the second of four residences for the Brothers during their 160-year association with Nenagh. They subsequently lived at Idrone Cottage on Dromin Road, and at their Summerhill residence, which was completed in 1969.
The decade after that saw the enormous expansion of CBS education with two new schools built in Summerhill. An event still recalled with great fondness in the town was the 1976 march from John's Lane to the the primary school, led by Principal Br Dermot Kelly. The new secondary school opened two years later.
The Christian Brothers maintained a link with the schools right up to last year.
Both schools had Christian Brothers as principals up until June 1998. Br Fred Doherty was the last primary principal and Br Jack Casey was the last secondary principal. The last teaching Brother in the secondary was the late Br Patrick O'Connell.
Both the CBS primary and secondary school remain under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust.
Nationally, the number of Christian Brothers has been declining, mainly due to age. By 2022 there were just three Brothers in the community in Nenagh.
In a statement, the Provincialate said it was decided to close the house in Summerhill with the resident Brothers moving to other locations. The last three present were Seamus Cyril Whelan, Killian Whelan and John Dooley. Br Killian Whelan has moved to Wexford and Br Dooley has moved to a care home. Br Seamus Whelan remains in Nenagh for the timebeing. The Christian Brothers have donated the property to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust.
Confirming that the local community formally disbanded last November, a spokesperson for the Provincialate pointed out that the Christian Brothers, along with their lay teachers, have contributed enormously to the education of boys and young men in Nenagh and its wider district for 160 years.
While there was no formal marking of the Brothers' departure, perhaps a local initiative might be organised to acknowledge their legacy, he suggested.