Mary O'Hagan facts for kids

Mary O'Hagan (born 1823, died 1876) was an important Irish nun. She was an Abbess, which is the leader of a convent of nuns. She led convents in Newry and Kenmare. Mary O'Hagan is best known for starting a new convent and school in Kenmare, Ireland.

Early Life and Calling

Mary O'Hagan was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1823. Her father, Edward O'Hagan, was a merchant. Her mother was Mary Bell. Mary had a brother named Thomas O'Hagan. He later became a very important lawyer and judge in Ireland. He was called the Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

Sadly, Mary's parents passed away when she was young. Her brother Thomas became her guardian. They moved to Dublin because of his work. When Mary was 21, she decided to become a nun. She joined the Sisters of Poor Clares in Newry. There, she took the name Sister Mary Michael.

Becoming an Abbess

Sister Mary Michael stayed in the Newry convent for many years. By 1853, she had become the Abbess. This meant she was in charge of all the nuns and the convent. She was a strong and respected leader.

Founding the Kenmare Convent

In 1861, a request came for a new convent and school in County Kerry. Sister Mary Michael was chosen to lead this new project. She took six other nuns with her to Kenmare. They planned to build a new school and convent there.

While the new buildings were being constructed, the nuns lived in a place called "Rose Cottage." They even turned the old coach house into a breakfast room. This room provided breakfast for their students and other local children.

Building the School and Helping the Community

Building the school was a big project. It created jobs for many men in the area. The new school was built from an old workhouse building.

Mary O'Hagan also wanted to help the local women and girls. She started an "industrial school." This school taught women useful skills. These skills would help them find jobs or create products to sell.

• Girls learned lace-making.
• They also learned embroidery.
• Drawing and design classes were offered too.

The designers of the lace photographed in 1889

When the school buildings were finished in 1864, the construction jobs ended. So, Mary O'Hagan started teaching boys new skills too. They learned drawing and design. They also learned leatherwork, woodcarving, and plasterwork.

By 1869, the items made by the students were very popular. They sold for about £500 each year. This was a lot of money back then! The lace made there became famous as Kenmare lace. It was also called "Point d’Irelandaise." This lace was very popular until the end of the First World War.

Later Life and Legacy

Mary O'Hagan passed away on January 31, 1876. She died at the Convent of the Holy Cross in Kenmare. One of her close friends was Margaret Anna Cusack. Margaret was one of the six nuns who went with Mary to Kenmare. Margaret later wrote a book about Mary's life. It was called In Memoriam: Mary O'Hagan, Abbess and Foundress of the Convent of Poor Clares, Kenmare.

Mary O'Hagan's work helped many people in Kenmare. She provided education and job skills. Her legacy lives on through the beautiful Kenmare lace and the community she helped build.

Images for kids

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  The designers of the lace photographed in 1889