The Centenarian Award has traveled to Australia.
Laois County Council, through Age Friendly Laois, has today announced Sr. Eileen Creagh as the second recipient of the Laois County Council Centenarian Award, an initiative that has reached all the way to Australia, where Sr. Eileen Creagh has lived for over 70 years of her life.
The Centenarian Award is a new programme designed to honour residents of County Laois who reach the age of 100, recognising their lifetime of contribution to family, community and society. Each centenarian is honoured with a commemorative coin, specially designed to mark this extraordinary achievement.
Speaking on behalf of Laois County Council, Cathaoirleach Catherine Fitzgerald said: “I would like to extend my warmest wishes to Sr. Eileen as she recieves her Centenarian Award. To honour a Laois native who has made their life on the other side of the world is a privilege for us at Laois County Council. It shows the strength of the Laois connection, at home and abroad. I warmly congratulate Sr. Eileen on reaching this remarkable milestone”.
Orphaned at a young age, Sr. Eileen Creagh devoted her life to faith, education, and service, journeying from rural Laois to Australia where she spent decades teaching, leading, and caring for others: Sr. Eileen Creagh was born in Harristown, Rathdowney, Co. Laois on 14th October 1923, to Michael & Ellen Creagh.
She was the third of 9 children. Sadly, their mother passed away on the birth of the 9th child and less than 3 years later their father passed away from ill health, leaving all 9 children orphaned.
After her mother’s death, at the tender age of 9, Eileen went to live with her Uncle Thomas where she was a great help to his wife Katie in the rearing of their young family, and with general chores around the house and farm.
She attended primary school at the St. John of God Convent in Rathdowney, Co. Laois.
Eileen was a bright child and liked school and the religious Sisters very much. After Primary School, her Aunt Katie made enquiries with the Brigidine Convent in Tullow, Co. Carlow and Eileen was awarded a scholarship as a full-time boarder.
She passed Matriculation and the Leaving Cert with honours in 1941.
While in school in Tullow, she noticed how kindly the Sisters treated each other and the students.
She was drawn to the religious way of life and decided to enter the Brigidine Order as she was firmly convinced of her calling from God.
Eileen entered the Novitiate in Tullow on 1st Feb 1942.
She took her vows on 24th August 1944 and embarked on a life of missionary work and teaching.
She taught in Denbeigh, North Wales for 3 years and in 1947 volunteered to go to Australia to join the Brigidines there.
In December 1947, six Irish Sisters secured their visas to travel to Australia, three from Laois, one from Tullow, one from Whitby in UK and one from Hacketstown, Co. Carlow.
They boarded the S.S. Orion on 29th December 1947. On arrival in Sydney, they were met by members of the Campion family from Ballagh, Rathdowney and were driven to Randwick, the Brigidine Mother House.
Eileen taught at Randwick for a year and was then sent to Perth to open a new school in a new suburb of Perth called Wembley.
She went on to spend a total of 9 years in Western Australia and returned in 1954 to Randwick and took on the role of Bursar.
Her capabilities were recognised further in 1961 when she was appointed Mother Superior at Cowra NSW, 300 miles from Sydney.
In 1966, Eileen was transferred back to Western Australia as Mother Superior and spent 6 happy years teaching there.
She spent a further 6 years in Queensland and then spent some time in Coonamble, N.S.W, where the Brigidine sisters had established their first Australian base, in 1883.
In 1990, Eileen was tasked with the care of frail and elderly Sisters back in Randwick.
She also taught english at this time. In 1996, it was time for Eileen to retire to a newly prepared hostel for Sisters and Seculars – Brigidine House, Randwick.
Sr. Eileen is now 102 years old and has given a lifetime of service with the Brigidine Order.
She is happily resident in Brigidine House, Randwick, Sydney, where she is in receipt of the best care and companionship.
She continues to keep abreast of current affairs and is fully mobile and in the best of health.
She keeps in regular contact with family members in Brisbane, Wexford and Rathdowney.
Emergency Services At Scene Of Westmeath Motorway Incident
Tributes Paid To Midlands Teen Following Fatal E-Scooter Crash
CCTV Planned Across Offaly To Combat Illegal Dumping
Laois Communities Selected For 2026 IPB All-Island Pride Of Place Competition
Laois TD Says RSA Waiting Times Are Misleading
Inquest Hears Blood Seen On Offaly Prisoner’s Face During Fatal Incident
Offaly Hosts 12th Scripts Playwriting Festival
Debate On "Ban Hare Coursing" Bill In Dáil Today
Midlands MEP Brings Wool's Future To European Parliament Debate
HSE Withdraws Home Support Guidance
Enoch Burke Released After Over 700 Days In Prison
Uisce Éireann Welcomes EPA Report Highlighting Continued Progress On Safe Drinking Water
Laois Family Syndicate Collect Winning Lotto Prize
Irish Men's Sheds Association Calls For €3.55m In Pre-Budget 2027 Submission
Midlands Hotelier Says VAT Cut Is A Lifeline
Offaly TD Urges Budget Action As Energy Bills Rise
Junior Minister Acknowledges Need For Faster Government Decisions
Offaly Records Lowest Number Of Complaints Against Lawyers
Laois To Receive €1m For Storm Chandra Road Repairs
Prep In Full Swing For Offaly Festival