The Sisters of Mercy were pioneers of nursing care from the Crimean War to Australia. Their crowning achievement, the Mater Hospital in Dublin, was founded in 1861 to treat the poor, but today faces ethical as well as financial challenges
Though Ireland and Crimea have not influenced each other much in recent history, there is a historical bond that goes back to the Crimean War (1854-56). Over 30,000 Irish soldiers, who then made up more than a third of the British army, served in the conflict. Another link concerns Florence Nightingale and the Irish nursing sisters who played a significant role in nursing the wounded alongside her.These Mercy Sisters had trained at the Hôtel Dieu Hospital in Paris and Amiens just ahead of the onset of war. In 1854, at the behest of the War Office
13 March 2014, The Tablet
On the front line of health
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User Comments (1)
Thank you for your article on the Dublin Mater and the role Mother Vincent Whitty played in its establishment as well as her contribution to the training of nurses.
A minor clarification: Whilst Sr Mary Aloysius Doyle was in 1897 the last surviving Irish Sister of Mercy to serve in the Crimea, there were other surviving Sisters in England who were also awarded the Royal Red Cross. 'The Nursing Record and Hospital World' of 17 July, 1897 reports “Her Majesty has conferred the decoration of the Royal Red Cross upon Nursing Sisters Mary Helen Ellis, Mary Stanislaus Jones, Mary Anastasia Kelley, and Mary de Chantal Huddon, in recognition of their services in tending the sick and wounded at the seat of war during the Crimean campaign of 1854- 1856. It may be of interest to the public to learn that these sisters have received this decoration as being the only survivors of the Roman Catholic sisters who gave their services in nursing our soldiers during the Crimean War, over 40 years ago....The three first-named...were on their return from the East, asked to undertake the nursing of a hospital...in Great Ormond Street.”
Another Sister who had served in the Crimea, Sr M Elizabeth Hercy, a native of Berkshire, who had entered the Sisters of Mercy in Baggot St, Dublin, followed Mother Vincent Whitty to Brisbane. Sr Elizabeth Hercy lived in Brisbane until her death in 1901 and was also awarded the Royal Red Cross. Her award is on display at Mercy Heritage Centre, Brisbane.