| There
have been many changes and developments in the convent since it was established
in 1864. The Franciscan Convent, Drumshanbo joined the Poor Clare Order in
1973. The
convent in Drumshanbo was the only one of its kind in Ireland, and, in that way
was quite isolated. Since the Poor Clares follow the same regime it was in
the best interests of the convent to join. |
Stained glass window of St. Francis & St.
Clare, the saints on whom the sisters model their lives. |
There are seven Poor Clare
convents in Ireland - Belfast, Carlow, Cork, Drumshanbo, Dublin, Ennis and
Galway. From time to time the sisters from these houses gather for
courses and meetings to share ideas and pool resources. This is a
new practice of the Order. In former times sisters only left the
convent for dental or hospital appointments. There are thirteen nuns
in the convent today. They are from Australia, Cavan, Cork,
Fermanagh, Galway, Leitrim, Longford and Tipperary. The Mother Abbess is
Mother Raphael from Cork. |
