Sr. Consilio
Encyclopedia
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who set up Cuan Mhuire
Cuan Mhuire
Cuan Mhuire is a charitable drug, alcohol and gambling rehabilitation organisation in Ireland. Cuan Mhuire offers a comprehensive, structured, abstinence based, residential programme to persons suffering from alcohol, other chemical dependencies and gambling. Cuan Mhuire was founded by Sr. Consilio...
, a charitable drug, alcohol and gambling rehabilitation organisation in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Childhood
Eileen Fitzgerald, who is better known as Sr. Consilio of Cuan Mhuire, was born on 9 January 1937. She was the fifth child, of three brothers and three sisters, born to Maurice and Mary Agnes Fitzgerald. Sr. Consilio was raised on a farm in Clougvoula, Brosna, Co. Kerry. Sr. Consilio went to secondary school in at the Convent of Mercy in Abbeyfeale.Nursing
After completing her leaving certificate she began training as a nurse in the North Infirmary Hospital in Cork. The hospital was run by The Sisters of Charity.The Sisters of Charity encouraged their nurses to do visitations of the sick or needy on Gurranabraher—a local housing estate. The nurses who chose to do so, went in pairs and were easily recognisable in their navy uniform coats. Sr. Consilio spent most of her off duty in Gurranabraher where she got to know and love the people. Years later when she was doing her midwifery in St. Finbarr’s Hospital, Cork she found herself once more in Gurranabraher – this time in the capacity of a midwife.
Joining the nuns
Upon completion of Sr. Consilio’s training as a nurse, she took steps to answer her calling in life. Sr. Consilio joined the Sisters of Mercy, in Athy, Co. Kildare, on 8 September 1959.As part of Sr. Consilio’s training as a nun she taught second standard in the Primary School. . In her second year she taught infant boys and fifth standard. She also got her first taste of work in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Athy. The Matron, Sr. Dominic, was a her mentor who had a profound effect on the young Sr. Consilio.
Awakening of concern for the homeless and addicted
During Sr. Consilio’s time working in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Athy, she would come in contact with, and befriend, many “road men”—those men of no fixed abodeNo fixed abode
No fixed abode or without fixed abode is a legal term generally applied to those who do not have a fixed geographical location as their residence...
who went from county home to county home, and found temporary lodgings in a little house at the bottom of the garden at St. Vincent’s. They got their at a side table in the main dining room. She would come to know these men well from her work in the kitchen; she also looked after their sleeping accommodation and chatted with them at nighttime. In her own words she said
I was interested in them and found them to be intelligent, often well educated people. Some of them had even changed their names as they didn’t want to be recognised—they were so ashamed of their lifestyle. I often talked to them about their families and encouraged them to write home, particularly if their mothers were alive. I often thought how my mother would worry if a brother of mine were in a similar position. As time went on I began to realize more and more that these people were my brothers, and I said to myself: ‘Some day, somewhere, somehow, I will have a place that these people can call home
Recognition of Work
Sr. Concilio has been publicly honoured on many occasions. Sr. Consilio has accepted every award or nomination on behalf of Cuan MhuireCuan Mhuire
Cuan Mhuire is a charitable drug, alcohol and gambling rehabilitation organisation in Ireland. Cuan Mhuire offers a comprehensive, structured, abstinence based, residential programme to persons suffering from alcohol, other chemical dependencies and gambling. Cuan Mhuire was founded by Sr. Consilio...
. The awards include:
- 1975 Nurse of the Year In recognition of her work and professionalism
- 1977 Received a civic reception by the Lord Mayor of GalwayGalwayGalway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
and nominated as one of the "People of the Year" - 1993 Nominated for Dublin Lord Mayor Awards and was placed on Dublin's civic honours list. The Lord Mayor of DublinLord Mayor of DublinThe Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
at that time was AldermanAldermanAn alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
Gay Mitchell, T.D.Teachta DálaA Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
. - 1996 KerryCounty KerryKerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
Person of the Year At this presentation Marion Walsh, CathaoirleachCathaoirleachCathaoirleach is the title of the chairman of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Senator Paddy Burke...
of the Kerry Association, said:
Sr. Consilio has vast experience in meeting suffering in others, but the serenity she radiates is proof that happiness can be found in the midst of suffering. She is a very worthy recipient of the 1996 Kerry Person of the Year Award, and Kerry people from all over the world should be proud of her humanity and achievements
- 1997 AthyAthyThe town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
Person of the Year - 1999 Conferred with Honorary Life Membership of the Royal Dublin SocietyRoyal Dublin SocietyThe Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
- 1999 Winner of the Irish Sun “Sunshine Person of the Year”
- 1999 Hall of Fame Award sponsored by Allied Irish Bank and the KerrymanKerrymanThe Kerryman is a weekly local newspaper published in County Kerry in Ireland by Independent News & Media. The newspaper was founded in 1904....
This award honoured not just Sr. Consilio but the members of the Fitzgerald family
who have worked for Cuan Mhuire. It honoured in particular, her brother Johnny Fitzgerald,
who has done so much building work in all of the Cuan Mhuire centres and her sister,
Sr Agnes who works in Cuan Mhuire, Bruree, Co.Limerick.
- 2000 Sr. Consillio was conferred with an Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the Royal College of SurgeonsRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandThe Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...
An honour which she shares with, among others, Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
of Calcutta.
- 2002 Conferred with Honorary Fellowship of the Waterford Institute of TechnologyWaterford Institute of TechnologyWaterford Institute of Technology is a state funded third-level educational institution situated in the city of Waterford, Ireland. The Institute has six Schools and 16 Departments....
(WIT). - 2002 Degree of Doctor of Laws (LLG) conferred by The Higher Education and Training Awards Council
- 2003 Voted, by Radio KerryRadio KerryRadio Kerry is a full service, licensed radio station that operates from the franchise area of County Kerry in Southwest Ireland.Radio Kerry was established in 1989 and began broadcasting on July 14 1990. The station headquarters are in Tralee, the principal town of County Kerry, with remote...
listeners, "The Greatest Kerry Person of All Time" - 2003 Awarded DuhallowDuhallowDuhallow is a barony located in the north-western part of County Cork, Ireland.- Legal context :Baronies were created after the Norman invasion as subdivisions of counties and were used for administration. Baronies continue to be regarded as officially defined units, but they are no longer used...
Person of the Year. - 2010 CHKS international quality improvement award for 2010.
- 2011 Sr. Consillio was awarded an honorary MBE in recognition of her lifelong work in helping individuals and families suffering from alcoholism and other addictions.
Cuan Mhuire
In 1965 Sr Conillio founded Cuan MhuireCuan Mhuire
Cuan Mhuire is a charitable drug, alcohol and gambling rehabilitation organisation in Ireland. Cuan Mhuire offers a comprehensive, structured, abstinence based, residential programme to persons suffering from alcohol, other chemical dependencies and gambling. Cuan Mhuire was founded by Sr. Consilio...
and dedicated her life to the work of the charity.