Sr Eileen Blathnaid Brady, who died on April 21st, was born in Dublin in 1934 to Sean Brady and Máire Ní Ghuairim. Mr Brady was a Fianna Fáil TD for 38 years in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown constituency. Ms Ni Ghuairim was an Irish teacher, writer, broadcaster and sean-nós singer. The family lived in Ranelagh and Sr Brady attended The Convent of the Sacred Heart, Leeson Street where her devotion to the Sacred Heart began.
In 1953, Sr Brady entered the religious life at Mount Anville. She then trained as a teacher in the Froebel College, Sion Hill. In 1961, she made her final vows as a religious of the Sacred Heart. She taught in many schools; Craiglockhart School Scotland, Mt Anville, Armagh, Monkstown and Roscrea. Sr Brady was a gifted teacher greatly admired by her pupils; one of them said of her “so dignified, serene, so genuine”. Her influence was a significant one in the formative years of young pupils.
High principles and independence were the hallmarks of her family. In fact, her father was the only TD who suggested listening to the advice of the celebrated Irish-born US priest Fr Edward J Flanagan, who founded the Boys Town Home of Boys in Nebraska in 1917 on the organisation of the Industrial Schools in Ireland. All the other TDs rejected his criticism.
Sr Brady was deeply contemplative and vigorously apostolic. Her classes were creative, introducing pupils to drama, music, nature studies, according to their level. Character formation was done with kindness and a warm heart.
After many years of teaching, Sr Brady was seconded to the diocese of Killaloe to work with the travelling community. A special interest and love of the community resulted in friends all over Ireland. During her retirement, Sr Brady began working in the Provincial Archives in 1994. She set up a much-appreciated professional research centre in Mt Anville House that can be accessed by academics, journalists, past pupils and others. It is a great historical asset.
In 2022, the vast and meticulous research on the history of the Leeson Street Convent 1875-1967 was published by Sr Brady and edited by Máire Ní Chearbhaill. It was entitled The History of Two Dublin Georgian Houses 1750-1967. It is an account of the amazing work that was done for all social classes in an impoverished Ireland of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Convent life went through many changes from the 1950s to the present day and Sr Brady adjusted well to the new styles of life. Wherever she lived she always created a homely atmosphere and accepted the vicissitudes of life.
Sr Brady died at the age of 90 on April 21st, 2025. It was a privilege to know a person so loyal and kind to others. during a long and humble life.
“But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me, as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life....“ George Eliot.
– Joan Hutchinson
