Mary Halpin

Mary Halpin was born  12/7/1873 and was the daughter of William Halpin and Alicia Quish. She was the elder sister of Margaret Halpin, Pat's granny, and sister to Msgr John Halpin.

In the 1901 census she is aged 26 and living in the Warrenmount Presentation Convent, Dublin. there were 12 sisters and 2 servants in the convent. Margaret Fottrell was the Head of Household, the Mother Superior.

In the 1911census Mary is registered as Sr Mary Aloysius Halpin. There were 15 sisters and 2 servants registered. Sr Mary Joseph Fottrell was the Head of Household, the Mother Superior.

Sr Mary Aloysius was Reverend Mother when her niece Josephine entered Warrenmount as a novice. The story goes that on a visit back to Ireland Rev John Halpin offered to take Josephine for a drive in the car and proceeded to drive her to Warrenmount to enter the convent! It is known that Fr Halpin made a visit back to Ireland in 1920 and if this account is correct then this would be the time that Josephine began her noviciate and the time that Sr Mary Aloysius was Reverend Mother.

Coincidentally, Pat's father Pa was only born in 1920.

I believe this photo below shows Sr Aloysius centre, with her niece Josephine (Sr Cecilia) to her left and her sister Margaret Leahy (nee Halpin), back row left.

(c) P Leahy