They took up their abode in Belgium; they made Ypres their home; and their convent, in its turn, became the refuge of many Irish exiles driven by injustice and oppression from the land of their birth. Wars swept over Europe. Belgium was desolated, even as she has been desolated to-day. Irish soldiers, too, played their part in those wars as they play their part in the struggle which is now convulsing the world—the part of valour and renown.
Fifteen years after the Irish nuns had settled in Ypres a great battle was fought at the other extremity of Belgium, on the famous field of Ramillies. In that fateful fight the Irish Brigade, in the service of France, held the village of Ramillies. The fight surged and raged around it, but the Irish kept their ground. Two of the flags which they had taken from the foe were deposited in the Irish Convent at Ypres, and a part of one of these flags was preserved by the faithful Irish nuns down to our own day....
Once more war clouds gathered over Europe. Once more Belgium was fated to become the victim of calamities which she did not provoke. The armies of Germany wantonly invaded her territory and cruelly devastated her homes. Ypres was bombarded and destroyed. The Irish Convent, often destined to escape the fury of the storm, now perished in the general ruin. The charred remains of its hospitable walls alone recall the historic memories with which its name shall for ever be associated.
Penniless, bereft of everything except the hope and determination to retrieve their fortunes, the nuns fled from Belgium and took refuse in England....
In their trouble, anxiety, and distress they sought counsel with Irishmen to aid them in considering the best way of finding a suitable home in the old land. Providentially such a home offered itself in Merton House, Macmine, County Wexford. Recently the Mother Prioress and one of the nuns visited the place, and were pleased with it. Acting on the advice of their friends they resolved to purchase it. We now venture to appeal to Irishmen and Irishwomen in Ireland and abroad to help us in collecting the necessary funds. We make this appeal with confidence.
The nuns have told the story of their flight from Belgium in the book, The Irish Nuns at Ypres, published by Messrs. Smith, Elder, of London. The tale is an epic which will live in the history of those fearful times to the honour of the religious Order and the glory of womanhood. Fidelity to religious and national ideals has been their badge of distinction in every eventuality. They shall have their reward. The heroism, the self-devotion, the religious faith, the Christian zeal and charity of those Irish nuns in a terrible crisis in the history of the Order will, we venture to say, command universal respect and admiration, mingled with pity for their fate, and an earnest desire, among all generous souls, to help them in retrieving their fortunes.
J.E. REDMOND, M.P.
R. BARRY O'BRIEN.
Subscriptions to "The Irish Nuns of Ypres Fund" will be received by J.E. Redmond, M.P., Aughavanagh, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow; R. Barry O'Brien, 100 Sinclair Road, Kensington, London; the Right Rev. Abbot Marmion, O.S.B., Edermine, Enniscorthy; Mr. M.J. O'Connor, Solicitor Wexford; and the Freeman's Journal, Prince's Street, Dublin.
February, 1916.