Convent saved for Templemore

Public meeting hears of progress

A public information meeting, convened by the steering committee of the “Save the Convent” campaign was held in the Templemore Arms Hotel on Tuesday of last week. The purpose of the meeting was to inform the community of progress on the matter to date. The steering committee comprises Fr. Conor Hayes, Mary D’Estelle Roe, Kevin Ludlow and David Cambie. A well attended meeting was chaired by Kevin Ludlow who welcomed everybody including the public representatives Michael Lowry TD, Alan Kelly TD , Councillors Phil Bugler , Eddie Moran , Willie Kennedy , Shane Lee and Michael Smith. In addition he welcomed former public representative Noel Coonan. Fr. Conor Hayes then addressed the gathering and he spoke of the Convent and its importance to the community as a facility to enhance the lives of people. He spoke of its possible acquisition as a once in a lifetime opportunity, which if lost, would never come our way again. He outlined many various stages of the campaign to date and the various negotiations that took place with the leadership of the Sisters of Mercy. He also outlined the involvement of the Red Cross with the building and its role in housing Ukrainian refugees for almost two years.

Fr. Conor then thanked the Sisters of Mercy for their excellent work in our community and the selfless service which they had given the community since their arrival in Templemore in 1863. In particular he mentioned the warm regard in which Sr. Mary Moloney and Sr. Helena Blackwell, the last two Sisters living in Templemore, are held in the community. He also pointed out that neither had any involvement in the decision to sell the convent. The steering committee was established with the full authority of the Board of Templemore Community Services Centre and immediately launched a strong public campaign through local media, posters, consultations with local representative Michael Lowry TD and a public petition campaign both in person and online to garner public support. McHugh and Glynn Associates came on board in a valuation capacity and reported that a figure of €675,000 was a fair and reasonable price for a building of this type. A copy of the report, outlining this community valuation, was forwarded to the Sisters of Mercy leadership team in Naas which resulted in a very cordial meeting with the steering committee. Following that meeting Fr. Hayes informed us that he received communication from Naas shortly afterwards that they were the preferred bidder at the aforementioned price.

Next to address the meeting was David Cambie who gave a brief outline of the history of Templemore Community Services since it began in two rooms provided by the late Phyllis and Mattie Stapleton’s in 1979. The original committee comprised of Dr. John Hennigan, Marcus Wilson, Marie Kennedy, Bill Sheehan, Jackie Keogh, Sr. Mairead Ryan and Fr Michael Walsh, all sadly deceased, along with Sheila Reilly and Marcus Wilson who are still with us. In 1986, following the departure of the Christian brothers, they donated their monastery to the parish. Canon Noonan subsequently offered the building to the Community Services who began operations there in 1988 under the initial leadership of Sr. Ignatius O’Neill and carried on by Sr. Martha Shanahan, Sr. Celestine Large, Sr. Joan Kirby and Anne McNamara. Sr. Mary Moloney was involved as a social worker almost from the outset while Sr. Cait Gannon was also involved for a period. David touched on the extent of the volunteer involvement over the years and paid particular tribute to long-standing volunteer, Nancy Treacy, who is unwell at present. Pauline Coonan’s vision was also recalled as she passionately advocated for many years that the convent be purchased as a community resource.

In 2015 the HSE notified Community Services that they would only deal with incorporated entities in the future. Templemore Community Services Centre Limited was established as a result with Teresa Devaney, Dorothy Bradish, Deirdre Conlan, Fr Conor Hayes, Michael Crowley, Mary D’Estelle Roe, Renee Ludlow, Sr Mary Moloney, Tom Stamp and David Cambie as its directors. The current acting general manager is Winnie Grieswood who is assisted by Mary Keane. Clara Keegan is the Day Centre supervisor while Fiona Hickey leads the kitchen team. Transport is provided by minibus drivers Pat Doorley and Lorraine Mullins. David outlined the many services provided at the centre including the community playschool, family supports, meals on wheels, physiotherapy, chiropody, hairdressing, arts and crafts, music, bath facilities, reflexology, counselling and much more.

Funding of community services comes from the HSE, Tusla and fundraising but since Covid the voluntary fundraising has dropped enormously meaning the service has operated on a deficit in more recent years. The age profile of the clients has risen from 69 to 83 since 1998 while the number attending has also jumped. With space on Bank Street now stretched to capacity the acquisition of the Convent was now of paramount importance. Having exhausted every possibility for alternative accommodation, David told the meeting they believe that acquiring the convent represents the best chance to adequately cater for the needs of the elderly and vulnerable in our community. However, he also stressed the enormity of the challenge that lies ahead for the community but he was in no doubt that the generosity, goodness and support of the people will once again come to the fore.

Deputy Michael Lowry addressed the meeting and spoke of the excellent work which the Sisters of Mercy had undertaken in Templemore and the contribution they had made to the community. He outlined his contact with the steering committee and commended them for the quiet, effective manner in which they had undertaken their business. He told the meeting that he had directly contacted IPAS outlining the importance of the building to the community in Templemore and the surrounding areas and that a short time later he received confirmation that they had no further interest in acquiring the property. He further confirmed that negotiations with the HSE in relation to the move are ongoing and a meeting with Senior HSE officers is imminent. Deputy Alan Kelly, Councillor Phil Bugler and Councillor Michael Smith also pledged their full support for the project and stated they will do all they can to secure the best services for the convent. The meeting was then open to the floor where many spoke of the value of the service.

Joan Byrne, whose 93 year old mother Noreen attends the centre, gave a deeply personal account of her mother’s frailty and of her and her family's contact with the service . She praised the service for the care and facilities it provides and the lifeline it gives her mother and her family. Paddy McLoughlin then spoke as a current user of the service. He told the meeting of the loss of his wife Sadie ago as a man in his eighties and how getting in contact with the centre helped to dispel his sense of loneliness and isolation following her death. Margaret Hough spoke of the experience of her and her family when her late father Joe used the service. She outlined how her father was a private man who guarded his independence and for whom driving his car was so important. Deteriorating health signalled the end of his driving days and an initial suggestion of the district nurse for him to attend the day care service was firmly rebuffed by Joe.

But as the weeks passed and his sense of isolation grew, a second offer was reluctantly accepted. Gradually Joe began to look forward to his trips to the centre so much that he was out waiting for the minibus before it arrived. The warmth and friendship he experienced from Clara and all the staff in the centre greatly enhanced Joe’s life and made his final years much more enjoyable and for this the Hough family are very grateful .

Kevin Ludlow concluded by thanking everyone for their attendance and confirmed the intention of the Steering Committee, acting under the full authority of the Board of Templemore Community Services Centre Limited, and following the strong support of this meeting, to proceed immediately to implement the Agreement in principle reached with the Mercy order to purchase the former Convent of Mercy in Templemore for community use. The steering committee would like to express their sincere thanks to Dan, James and the staff of the Templemore Arms Hotel for all their support and the meeting concluded with a prayer from Fr. Conor as we embark together on this huge project for the community.