On the 1st August 2014 the Irish Independent published the following account of Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy:
Earlier this year a portrait of Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy (‘Sr Stan’), social justice campaigner, was entered in the Portrait Collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
The portrait, by Vera Klute, a graduate of Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, was commissioned by the Gallery and is now on public view in the Millennium Wing.
Sean Rainbird, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said: “This portrait of Sr. Stan is a fitting tribute to an individual who has contributed significantly to our awareness of those individuals who are most marginalised in Irish society.”
The following month Sr. Stanislaus was again in the news!
The Irish Independent made a selection of 100 women (of all time) who contributed greatly to Ireland. The top ten (one of whom was Sr. Stan) were voted on by Irish Independent readers in an ‘on line’ poll. Sister Stan was eventually selected as Ireland’s Greatest Woman Ever!!
The following was published by the Irish Independent on Saturday 20th September 2014:
IRELAND’S GREATEST WOMAN – SISTER STANISLAUS KENNEDY
Visionary, Social Justice Campaigner 1939-
There can be few Irish women alive today who have the power to move and stir and inspire people as much as Sister Stanislaus Kennedy. Her name has become a byword for good works, humility and mindfulness which every day helps people cope with the most challenging situations in life. She was in the top 10 names for ‘Ireland’s Greatest Women’ and in our online vote last week, readers unanimously voted Sr Stan as the number one choice.
Born in Lispole, Co Kerry as Treasa Kennedy, but universally known as Sister Stan, the Sister of Charity is Life President of the homeless charity Focus Ireland which she co-founded in 1985. She has also been the moving force behind the Immigrant Council of Ireland, The Sanctuary and Young Social Innovators.
In 2009 she explained: “As a young girl I was very conscious of the distinctions between those who were better off than others. I was really conscious of poor people, and that’s what I wanted to do with my life. You couldn’t do social sciences. Social workers didn’t exist. The professions that existed were nursing and teaching, but I wanted something more.”
For her works in changing that face of Ireland, Sister Stan was appointed to the Council of State in 1997 by President Mary McAleese.
Her good works and a lifetime devoted to looking after the less fortunate in society is something that is hugely admired and appreciated.
