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9 August 1887 — Coole Park, Gort, County Galway | |
Tuesday. 9th August [1887]. After lunch Augusta drove us & little Robert Gregory to Gort to visit the Convent there. The nuns received us most kindly & they showed us over the schools & made the children sing to us. The Revd mother as they call the Superior is a charming woman young & pretty having a dignified air. She sang with the children & beat time with a very pretty little foot & a good voice. After showing us the schools she took us round the garden which is very prettily situated by a little stream. A large wall surrounds their domain & they have their little cemetery inside it—& are building new schools. They have a good kitchen garden with fruit & vegetables. Then they took us into the Convent & showed us their cells & the chapel & at our request 4 of the nuns sang to the organ accompanied by one of the sisters. They sang an Ave Maria very prettily & one sister had a fine contralto voice. Then the sister at the organ played a voluntary during which the revd mother knelt in a charming attitude & prayed. The whole thing was very touching. The chapel was merely a large room fitted up & beautifully kept. We left the good women with many thanks & went on to the Workhouse which is also kept by the nuns & is in the most beautiful order– There is a lovely garden planted out as in a gentleman’s house & entirely managed by one of the sisters & the help of the paupers. Coming back thro’ Gort we waited while Augusta went to divers places to make arrangements about having the workhouse children to tea at Coole tomorrow. Had tea & I sat on divan in drawing room & was napping there when Col. O’Hara arrived. He came to dine & sleep. A fine man & very agreeable. Played Patience in the eveng. | |
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