Sister Margaret Dominic Brennan
1914 – 2011
Born: 25th May 1914
Entered Religious Life: 18th November 1946
Died: 20th November 2011
Appreciation of Sr Margaret Dominic Brennan
Sr. Margaret Dominic was born in Co. Tipperary in 1914. Around the time she left school, her cousin died and left her husband with a large family and no mother. Sr Margaret Dominic was asked to look after the family until they were able to fend for themselves. She left her home and spent the next fourteen years bringing them up – the youngest, a boy, was only a baby. He knew no other mother apart from Margaret Dominic. That young baby eventually became a priest and often visited Sr Margaret Dominic in Merrion. He was naturally very fond of her. Margaret Dominic always wanted to be a Sister and waited until the family was grown up before she eventually entered herself when she was 32 years of age in 1946. Sr. Dominic ministered in Hackney, Crumlin, Basin Lane, Benada and Merrion. She came to Merrion in 1960 and worked in the Workroom there until 1998.
Sr. Dominic had a great love for the blind and helped them in many wonderful ways. Her main work was in the Workroom where she carried on a thriving knitting business, both hand and machine knitting. She taught the blind how to use the knitting machines. Every article that she made was perfect, and she supplied some shops in Dawson Street, some local primary schools and she even sent some of her handiwork to America.
She was a very prayerful, kind and hospitable person. She loved to entertain visitors and make them feel at home. Many sisters recall that Sr Margaret Dominic was such a lovely person to live with and often spoke about her earlier years with the family she cared for. She fascinated many with her stories!
When she retired to she went to live in Loyola, Merrion . She spent a short time in St. Monica’s Nursing Home in Belvedere Place, Dublin 1, and then returned to St. Olivers in Merrion where her last years were spent in the loving care of all the staff. She died peacefully there on the 20 November, 2011. R.I.P.
May she rest in peace.