Mary O'Halloran

Deceased Sisters

Mary O'Halloran - Ireland
17/12/1923 - 14/09/2019

Sr Mary O’Halloran, daughter of John and Mary (Canty) O’Halloran was born in Ahamore, Causeway, Co. Kerry on 17^th December 1923. The young Mary and her eight brothers received wonderful example from their parents. Through the difficult twenties and thirties when things were hard they learned much from their parents’ strong trust in God.

This grounding in faith was continued at school. First Mary attended Killahan Girls’ National School, then the Presentation Sisters’ School in Lixnaw, Co. Kerry. Mary was deeply impressed when her first teacher left to enter the Sisters of Mercy in nearby Tralee and when her three cousins became Marist Sisters.

In 1942 Mary offered herself as a candidate for the Marist Sisters, entering St. Brigid’s Novitiate, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim. She made her Profession in 1944. Later Sr. Mary completed her teacher training in Carysfort College, Dublin in 1947 and worked as a primary school teacher for 35 years; 25 years in Carrick on Shannon and 10 in Charlestown, Co. Mayo. She was appointed Principal of the school in Carrick on Shannon in 1959 and during her years there was known for her care and concern for the pupils, many of whom she prepared for scholarships. Past pupils who came to funeral attested to this with expressions of gratitude.

In 1980 Sr. Mary retired from teaching and trained for Parish Ministry. In 1982 responding to an appeal from the Bishop of Perth, in Scotland for personnel to engage in parish ministry she assumed the role of Parish Sister, a position in which she served for 12 years. At a Jubilee Mass for Sr. Mary in Perth, the Bishop paid tribute to Sr. Mary’s example of commitment and faith.

Sr. Mary returned to Ireland in 1994 and continued her pastoral ministry in Belfast. In 1998 she was appointed Superior of the Marist Community in Raheny, Dublin where she continued in parish ministry. In 2003 she gave some time to her family in Kerry. Sr. Mary’s final years were spent in Sundrive Road where she maintained a lively interest in life and in the changing world. Her interest in Kerry never wavered: she followed the Kerry Football Team enthusiastically, even all the way to their recent All Ireland Final appearance in Croke Park.

On Sunday 8^th September Sr. Mary assisted at Mass in the Convent Chapel which was celebrated in thanksgiving for her 75 years in religious life. Sr. Mary died quite unexpectedly but very peacefully the following Saturday, 14^th September 2019. Her Requiem Mass was celebrated the following Tuesday in St. Bernadette’s Church, Clogher Road by the Parish Priest Fr. Brian Lawless. In his homily Fr. Lawless offered sympathy to Sr. Mary’s family and Community and paid tribute to her long life of service faithfully lived.

Sr. Mary’s burial took place in Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim on a beautiful autumn afternoon; the singing of the birds in the warm sunshine mingled with the strains of the Salve Regina as Sr. Mary was laid to rest in the Convent Cemetery.

I bhFlaitheas Dé, na Maighdine Muire agus imeasc na naoimh uile go raibh lóistin aici anois.
(May she enjoy the hospitality of heaven with God and Mary in the company of all the saints.)

Deceased Sisters

40 visits