The Sisters of St Louis are closing their motherhouse convent in Monaghan town after 166 years.
The sisters arrived to Monaghan in 1859 under the invite of the then Bishop of Clogher, Bishop McNally.
To mark the convent's closure, several events are taking place this Sunday. For more than 166 years the St Louis sisters have contributed greatly to the provision of education and the community life in Monaghan.
The Sisters of St Louis are a French order of nuns who have been in Ireland since 1859, when three sisters came to Monaghan from the French Motherhouse near Paris. Sister Ann Matthews says Monaghan played a pivotal role after the nuns' arrival in the town 166 years ago.
Sister Ann Jordan says the Sisters of St Louis were running three schools in Monaghan Town.
She said she got involved in the local citizens information centre and it was an opportunity to give back to the area.
To mark this occasion, all are invited to join them for a Mass of Thanksgiving which will take place on Sun. 2nd March in St Macartan's Cathedral at 3pm, followed by light refreshments in the Hillgrove Hotel.
There will also be an Open Day & Exhibition of "The Story of the St Louis Sisters in Monaghan" from 11am to 2pm in St Louis Secondary School on 2nd March. Former curator of Cavan County Museum Savina Donohoe has been involved in the exhibition says it's been a huge undertaking by a number of sisters in Monaghan to be able to showcase this exhibition this weekend.
