Double celebration

Hospital’s Centenary And Wing Extension Yesterday marked a day of double celebration by the Sisters of the Mercy Hospital, Cork.

The centenary of the foundation was honoured and was marked by the opening and blessing of a new wing by His Lordship the Bishop of Cork (Most Rev Dr C Lucey).

The extension is in order to provide proper accommodation for the nurses and staff. The cost, a sum of £120,000 towards which a contribution of £100,000 has been made available by the Irish Hospitals Sweepstake Trust Fund.

Dr Lucey presided at a luncheon in the new extension at which were present the Canons of the Chapter, and many other clergy. The Lord Mayor of Cork (Mr RV Jago), the President of the University College, Cork (Dr H St J Atkins), members of the medical profession and prominent citizens.

Dr Lucey said that they had to go back one hundred years to see the beginnings of the Mercy Hospital, which was opened in the heavy shadow of the Famine years. It was a tremendous achievement on the part of the people in those days that they had the courage to build such fine public buildings and to provide schools and hospitals — the Mercy Hospital had really begun as a school. They could take considerable pride in the achievements of their ancestors on such a find undertaking in such dark and lean years.

Pitcure: Bishop of Cork Cornelius Lucey (centre) and other clergy and dignitaries at the opening ceremony of a new wing of the Mercy Hospital in Cork. The opening of the £120,000 wing on November 28, 1957, also marked the centenary of the foundation of the hospital by the Sisters of Mercy.