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Teresa
Mulally was born in 1728, in Pill Lane in Dublin city.
At the age of 20 she moved to Chester in
England, to live with an elderly relative. She set
up as a milliner, and secured a good standard of living.
By 1762, both of her parents had died, and with
their passing her interest in business matters
diminished. Now her thoughts turned more and more
towards Religious Life, but she was reluctant to take the
first step. It was not the best of times to be a
Catholic in Ireland in those days. the law declared
that it was a criminal act for Catholics to be educated
or to have schools of their own. Whenever she could, Teresa helped the poor in the vicinity of Mary's Lane. So strong was her love for the poor, that she felt if ever she became a Nun, she would be deserting those with whom she lived and worked. So, in 1766 Teresa contacted Father Mulcaile of St. Michan's, Mary's Lane(oldest Parish in Dublin)and told him of her plan to open a school of her own. She chose an old Three-Storey house in Mary's Lane, beside the Chapel. Appeals were made for donations to purchase the building and to furnish it. Teresa set the ball rolling by donating £20. May 1766 saw the Opening of her school, which was set up to provide education for poor girls. Teresa drew up her own set of rules and set the Agenda. In no time at all the school had nearly 100 girls. Not only were they taught the Three R's, but they were clothed and fed as well. Anytime there was danger, everyone put in their copybooks and took out their sewing or knitting. Spies and Informers were always on the lookout for those who carried out the task of Catholic Education. Spies were handsomely rewarded if they came across anyone who dared to instruct Irish Youth in Catholicism or any kind of Education. For sixteen years, Teresa Mulally and her two assistants had to be constantly on the alert for fear that their work came to the notice of Dublin Castle(which was just across the other side of the River Liffey). In the evening, when the school broke up, girls were sent home at intervals, two by two, in order to avoid attracting attention. Later Teresa opened a Boarding School for girls, in George's Hill. Two Presentation Nuns came from Cork, sent by Nano Nagle, to assist Teresa in her work. They were Sister Doyle, and Sister Doran. It was thus that the Presentation sisters came to George's Hill, Dublin, in 1794. |
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