What kind of legacy leads to a bronze likeness in the heart of Dublin? This, my friends, is the Catherine McAuley Statue. It commemorates a woman ahead of her time, Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy. Catherine McAuley wasn’t born into privilege. In fact, she experienced hardship from a young age. Orphaned early, she eventually found herself working for a wealthy couple, the Callaghans. They saw her kindness and devotion not just to them, but to those less fortunate. When they died, they left their fortune to her. Did she buy a mansion? Live a life of luxury? No. Catherine McAuley used the money to found the House of Mercy on Baggot Street in 1827. She saw a need to educate poor girls and women, and provide for the needy. This was just the beginning. This incredible woman went on to establish the Sisters of Mercy, a Catholic order devoted to education and social service. The order grew rapidly, reaching beyond Ireland’s shores even during her lifetime. Today, her legacy lives on in countless schools, hospitals, and institutions around the world. Catherine McAuley was declared “Venerable” by Pope John Paul II in 1990, the first step toward sainthood. Her story is a testament to the power of compassion and using what you have to help others. Let her life inspire you as you continue your journey through Dublin.
Saint John the Evangelist
Whispers of history echo from these stones. This is the site of Saint John the Evangelist. Once a vibrant church