Saint Catherine’s Celebrates Sister Nora Smyth

Sister Nora Smyth is pictured with some of the many family and close friends who gathered to celebrate a thanksgiving mass in the Sacred Heart Chapel of Saint Catherine’s College.

Saint Catherine’s College school community gathered this week to celebrate the life and achievements of Sister Nora Smyth. Close family and friends, colleagues from the wider school community, former and current staff attended the special thanksgiving mass which was celebrated by Father Peter McAnenly and Deacon Eunan McCreesh in the school’s Sacred Heart Chapel.

Sister Nora and guests celebrated her 74-year association with Saint Catherine’s after arriving as a boarding pupil in 1948. Sister Nora became part of the fabric of the school and her rich heritage is evidenced by the fact that her grandmother, her mother and her sisters also attended Saint Catherine’s. After entering the Sacred Heart Order, she joined the RSCJ and returned to the school as a teacher for many years. Sister Nora also worked in Canada and is well known for her publication on traditional cures, Going for the Cure. Her words of wisdom regularly featured on BBC Radio Ulster’s ‘Thought for the Day’ segment. Sister Nora has retired to Cedar House in Mount Anville, Dublin.

Principal of Saint Catherine’s College, Mrs N Tiffney, commented:

Sister Nora’s 74 year association with our school has been rich and varied. Her time in Armagh has been spent in the service of others and not exclusively for our benefit. The wider community has benefited significantly from her presence. Irreplaceable, she leaves for Dublin with the affection of those of us who have been privileged to know and work with her.

Sister Nora Smyth is pictured here with Principal of Saint Catherine’s College, Mrs Noeleen Tiffney, and former principals, Mrs Margaret Martin and Mrs Deirdre McDonald.

Sister Nora Smyth with: Deacon Eunan McCreesh, Father Peter McAnenly and Caroline Hicks.

Sister Nora Smyth is pictured with the current Secretary to the Principal, Mrs Una Corr, and former Secretary, Mrs Jeannie Minne.

Sister Nora Smyth surrounded by past and present members staff from Saint Catherine’s College: Front L-R Anne Murphy, Eilish Cardwell, Peter McNeill, Kathleen Daly Back L- R Marie McManus, Vice Principal Denise Moore, Deirdre Hegarty

Sister Nora Smyth and father Peter McAnenly are pictured with Anne Marie McLaughlin (Mount Saint Catherine’s) and her fellow Sisters of the Sacred Heart Sister Mary Roe, Sister Barbara Gartland and Sister Kata