Kilcullen, Ireland - Cross & Passion College

I wish to write a blog post about the school that Sr Joan was the principle at. When travelling over to Glenalough for a retreat we were fortunate enough to travel through Kilcullen. Please forgive me for my blog post not been in order, however as you could appreciate the trip has so many treasures and gems that I am able to express when have moment. 

A little history is required to give the full picture of the school and convent, that is present today in Kilcullen. 

From ‘humble beginnings’ the Sisters spread their wings and rapidly grew. 

Kilcullen is a small town on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. To put it into wider Ireland picture it is not too far from Dublin about an hour or so, I think, on the motorway. Kilcullen is known for its horse breeding and stud farms having many large estate properties that have been handed down through the generations. The land therefore is essential to this community township for survival. 

The village has three churches, two of which are catholic and one baptist. 

In 1868 Cardinal Cullen appointed Fr. Langan to Kilcullen to assist the ageing Fr Murtagh, whom he succeeded as parish priest in 1872, holding this position for 32 years. 

It was Fr Langan that first try to bring the Sisters to Kilcullen. It was his second attempt to get a religious order establish and serve the Kilcullen community. Fr. Langan invited the Sisters of the Cross and Passion, with offering a home donated by Thomas Quinn who so it happens gave enough land for the new Convent and a loan of money for building. By September 1878 the house was ready for the Sisters and their arrival was a big event for the community. On the Sisters arrival there was a full congregation present for a Jubilant Mass. After the Mass there was a procession through the entire village up to their new convent home. 

— what a sight this would have been, and an amazing experience to start their foundation within the community - 

Only three Sisters were initially placed here although had connection to the Passionist Fathers in Mount Argus. 

The Sisters started ministry at the local school and visitations to the poor. This in itself was a formidable task since the conditions of the time were poor. Especially poor housing for the population of 900 which were compacted to a small area. This economic level hold right through until Joan was principle, and possibly even there today. With the school having mixture of those who own the stud farms and pupils from the workers on the stud farms.

In 1878, the Sisters taught in the girls National School which was built 20 years previously. Acknowledging the need for accomodation for the students to stay while studying, the Sisters open a private boarding school for the girls in their temporary convent. Numbers grew rapidly and they transferred to the new convent on the present site. 

The original building included the chapel and much of what is there today of the three story building. 

In 1924 the school became recognised as a Secondary School under the Department of Education and continues to be. 

In 1928 the noviciate was open and operated from here until 1953 when it was transferred to Mayfield - Dublin. 

In 1958 a new refectory, with some ancillary buildings, were erected, and in the summer of 1971 ten classrooms, including two science rooms and an art room were added. 

By 1986 Sr Joan was principle at the school. As I have heard, the major change occurred for the school with the slow introduction of boys. The boys, who previously had to travel outside of Kilcullen to secondary schools for education, were admitted and boarders were phased out. A major new extension was constructed. 

For our Sisters, it came time to hand over to laity to run the school. In 2004 Sr Marie O’Sullivan, left the school been the last teacher. 

In 1996 Paul Terrell took over from Sr Joan as Principal. 

In 2011 Sr Anne Harnett was the last Sister to be involved in the Board of Management and the school is now under the trusteeship of ‘Le Cheile” - which is another story about the dedication and devotion to this school that the Sisters join a trust with other religious to ensure that the school continues. 

Today there is about 730 boys and girls in the school. We visited at night, during the summer holiday therefore there was nobody around. We drove in the front and also on the side.
Quite often we are asked if we live in a convent and this is what I envision as too do other people, with a high brick fence like in larne around it! I can foresee the many stories that would have been created in this location, from the Sisters, students and community. 

It is another amazing gift to the English community that the Sisters have created, labour and brith while identifying the time to hand back to the community. What an amazing blessing and gift.