Galway – Riverside

THE STORY OF OUR COMMUNITY

RIVERSIDE, GALWAY

Riverside, Galway was founded on 17^th August, 2001 in Headford, Co. Galway. The founding Sisters were Sr. Mairead Rabbitte, Sr. Clare Costello and Sr. Chanel Canny. The Sisters were assigned to work with homeless people in the city at the request of Galway County Council and this was the reason for its foundation. At the time of writing (2008), Sr. Clare continues to work in Headford Secondary School.

The exact location of 14 Crescent View, Riverside, is in St Patrick’s Parish and is about half an hour’s walk from Galway City Centre on the main Tuam/Galway Road, adjacent to Industrial Estates on the outskirts of this busy, bustling city. The house itself is a four bedroom, semi-detached, in a housing estate and it has its own front and back garden and is convenient to hospitals, churches, shopping centres and 15 minutes from Carnmore Airport.

Significant visitors have included the Bishop of Galway, Martin Drennan, Sr. Ruth Cohnan from New Zealand, Sr. Josephine, Peter Claver from Poland and Aileen Newell, a past pupil.

In 2007, Sr. Mary Gannon and Sr. Pauline Morris were assigned to Riverside. Sr. Chanel Canny’s Golden Jubilee took place, and we had Sr. Clare Costello’s retirement and her assignment to Tuam. Sr. Mairead Rabbitte was assigned to Shantalla and, for their Sabattical year (2006-2007), Srs. Pauline and Martina Morris were assigned to Riverside.

Ministries include working with homeless women, visitation, adult basic education and RAINBOWS, a support programme for bereaved children and children whose parents are separated. Home School Liaison in Headford College is another ministry as is, RCIA Programme in St. Patrick’s Parish, and local resident’s committee members. As the City Council gave the responsibility for homeless to the Simon Community and Cope, we no longer work with homeless people.