Ireland

Although many Irish women had dedicated their lives to the SHCJ, it was not until 1936 that they made their first foundation in Ireland. Mother Mary St John Russell and Mother Mary Emmanuel Bellingham were turned away by over 20 bishops initially when they sought permission to establish a convent. However, through the help of Irish past pupils, supportive clerics such as Dr John Charles McQuaid and the generous hospitality and advice of fellow women religious, eventually they found Bishop Mulvany allowed the SHCJ establish themselves in his diocese.

The first SHCJ convent was based in ‘Stedelt House’ at Stamullen, County Meath. This was to be a centre through which the Society could encourage young women to join and become missionaries, allowing their ministries in Nigeria to grow.

The SHCJ's second Irish foundation was a hostel for young women working and studying in Dublin at 70 Harcourt Street in 1944. McQuaid was now Archbishop of Dublin and keen to support them both in their ministry to young ladies in Dublin and to eventually open a school in his archdiocese. The SHCJ and McQuaid’s hopes were realised in 1947 when Killiney Holy Child School was established in the buildings and grounds of Killacoona House.

In 1967, Sister Colette Dwyer, herself born in Cork, became local superior of Killiney Convent and headmistress of the school, but her ministry soon broadened to the wider community. A meeting with a Traveller community near Killiney led to a campaign to provide education and training to Irish Travellers for the rest of her life. Colette also spearheaded the establishment of Sallynoggin Community School in an area in desperate need of a local secondary school at the time.

SHCJ sisters would continue to work with Irish Travellers. From 1982 to 1988, sisters Helena Brennan, Mary McManus and Mary Taylor lived alongside Clondalkin Traveller community to advocate for the people there. Both Holy Child Community School, Sallynoggin and Holy Child School, Killiney continue to thrive and live out Cornelia Connelly's spirit of education today.