Waterford Standard 8 September
1899
H.R.H. The Duchess and the
Convent of Mercy, Stradbally
The sisters in charge of the weaving industries
attached to the Convent of Mercy, Stradbally have just received an order from
H.R.H. the Duchess of York for a number of their hand-made linen towels to be
sent to York House.
This industry, which was founded some time ago to
relieve the distress in the surrounding districts has developed, under the care
of the sisters, into one of considerable importance in the South of
Ireland. Not only are all sorts of
household linens, pocket handkerchiefs, etc., manufactured…but the convent has
gained for itself quite a reputation for its hand-woven coloured linens, which
are made in various art shades and used for decorative purposes as well as for
dresses. The Countess of Mayo has always
taken an active interest in the progress of the Stradbally industry, and not
long since the Countess of Cadogan ordered one of the rooms at the Vice regal
Lodge to be hung with Stradbally Linen. Another
order which the sisters have on hand is for two hundred yards of white serge
for the Cistercian monks at Mount Melleray.