School Copybooks

Nora Mitchell, known to her family as Nonie, was born on 17th January 1915 at Derrylissane, Menlough, to parents Patrick Mitchell and Bridget Curley. Her father Patrick was local carpenter. Nonie attended Garbally National School and loved her education. You will see in her copy books the beautiful handwriting and the old traditional style of Irish handwriting as well as algebra. These books are almost 100 years old and offer a brilliant insight to early school life from nine to fourteen years of age. The first copy is from 1924 when Nonie was just 9 years old and the second copy book is from 1929 when Nonie was a teenager. Even at just nine years old her handwriting was beautiful.

Nonie went on to be professed a nun with the Sisters of Mercy St. Louis, where her name became Sr. Mary Mercy. Sr. Mary went working in many areas all over the world to include USA, Ballymena, Co. Antrim and to Nigeria, in Africa, with the missions where part of her role was to bring religion and education to the local people (see her on her missionary work in photo below). In her retirement years she taught music from her home in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo.

Nonie returned home regularly and tried to make the return journey at least once a year. Nonie is pictured below at her beloved home in Derrylissane, Menlough. The Mitchell and Laffey families have very fond memories of Nonie and she was a huge part of their families when growing up. Nonie, Sister Mary Mercy, passed away on the 24th May 1996 in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, aged 81.

Daughter, Mother, Grandmother

Courtesy of Patsy Laffey

Outside her home Derrylissane Menlough

Courtesy of Patsy Laffey

Sister Mary Mercy "Nonie"

Courtesy of Patsy Laffey

Sr. Mary Mercy working as a Missionary

Courtesy of Patsy Laffey