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Story Notes
Catherine McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. Born in 1778, Catherine had a very comfortable and elegant life growing up in Dublin. She came from a wealthy Catholic family.
Both of Catherine’s parents passed away when she was young and she went to live with Protestant relatives. During this time, Catherine began working as a household manager for her relative’s friends, The Callaghan’s. They were an elderly, wealthy couple with no children and when they passed away Catherine became the sole residuary legatee of their estate.
Although Catherine spent many years living with Protestant families, she still lived as a Catholic and just like her late father, she wanted to help those less fortunate. After she inherited a considerable fortune, Catherine used it to build a house for homeless women and children. She then went on to set up the Sister of Mercy in 1931 and during her life she set up twelve foundations in Ireland and two in England.
Since her death the foundation has grown. In this documentary, Mary Curtin explores the live and works of Catherin McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy.
Produced by Mary Curtin.
First broadcast 8th July 1994.
An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries