A Co. Laois nun remembered for helping generations of young women in Portlaoise find work is to be honoured with a permanent memorial at her former convent.
Mother Columba, the late principal of the Presentation Convent in Portlaoise, has been described as “a legend” for her efforts to secure jobs for pupils in the civil service, Post Office, banks, Aer Lingus, ESB and Telecom Éireann.
Laois County Council has agreed to install an oak tree and plaque in her memory in what was once the convent’s “Nuns’ Garden”.
The memorial was proposed by Cllr Paddy Buggy and seconded by Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, who recalled that Mother Columba “called us her girls” and gave young women independence in a male-dominated world.
The former convent and school have since been transformed by Sophia Housing and Laois County Council into 52 social homes with community gardens.