Death of two nuns a ‘huge blow to the Order’

Both nuns were from Tipperary and were highly regarded among the leaders of the Presentation Order in this country.

Sr Imelda Carew hailed from Kilmore, near Dundrum, and was a former pupil, boarder, teacher, and principal of the Presentation College in Clonmel.

She was appointed provincial leader of the order’s south-east region a number of years ago, and was based in Terenure, Dublin.

Sr Paula Buckley was originally from Camas Bridge, outside Cashel. She worked in a prison ministry, based in Clondalkin, Dublin. A function to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her entry to the order was due to have been held next month in Cashel.

“It’s a huge blow to the order,” a senior figure in Presentation education said yesterday.

“Even though they were aged in their 60s and 70s, they would have been seen as young nuns. It’s very sad and a big blow.”

Sr Imelda attended a 40-year reunion of her Presentation Clonmel school class earlier this year and was a guest at several events in the region to mark the bicentenary of the order’s arrival in various towns following its foundation by Nano Nagle.

Sr Paula taught for many years in the Presentation Secondary School, Cashel, before it closed with the merger of the local second-level schools to form Cashel Community School. She then moved out of the town and was based in Clondalkin in recent years. Prior to that, she worked at the order’s Nano Nagle Centre, near Mallow, Co Cork, for a number of years.

A frequent visitor to her home area, Sr Paula earlier this summer attended a fundraising dance event in the village of Boherlahan, near Cashel. She is survived by a sister, Marie.

“She was a lovely nun,” one local man who knew her said yesterday. “Everybody was mad about her, she was just a very nice nun.”

Requiem Mass for Sr Imelda will be celebrated at Mountmellick parish church, Co Laois, tomorrow at 3pm and she will be buried afterwards in Mountmellick cemetery. Her sister, Sr Olivere, is a member of the Presentation community in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Sr Paula will be buried in Ardmayle cemetery, Co Tipperary, following requiem Mass in Cashel parish church at noon on Tuesday.

Women an inspiration to many

Statement from the Union of Presentation Sisters:

“It is with great regret that we confirm the deaths of Sr Imelda Carew and Sr Paula Buckley, members of the South East Province of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary following a tragic drowning accident in Kerry on Thursday, August 14.

“Congregational Leader of the Presentation Sisters Union, Sr Mary Deane, said: We are all stunned and shocked by this tragedy. Words seem inadequate to express our loss and sorrow as we come to terms with the tragic events that unfolded on a beautiful sunny evening.

“It is a tragic loss for all of us and for their families. These two wonderful women have been a source of inspiration and blessing to many people throughout their lives.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, communities and friends of our beloved Sisters at this time.”

Presentation Generalate

Monasterevin, Co Kildare