Agnes Morrogh Bernard

Agnes Morrogh Bernard aka Sister Mary Joseph Arsenius (24 February 1842 – 20 April 1932) was a Roman Catholic nun who founded two convents, and a woollen mill in Foxford, Ireland.

Life Bernard was born in Cheltenham on 24 February 1842 to John and Frances Mary Morrogh. In 1849, her parents inherited an estate in County Kerry and as a result the family changed their names to Bernard. They were then living in Cork but she and her parents moved to Shehersee House on the Bernard's new estate. In 1854, she undertook formal education at Laurel Hill convent in Limerick. She was there for three years and after a year with her parents she went to Paris to complete her education at the Convent of Dames Anglaises where she chose a religious life. She became a novice at the Religious Sisters of Charity convent in Dublin when she was 21. In 1863, she took the name Sister Mary Joseph Arsenius and professed in 1866. She was initially involved in teaching but then moved on to managerial and administration.

Bernard's management and results attracted further funding and the Mill undertook training of their own workers and in time training in other skills pertinent to the local activities. Bernard's organisation instilled new methods of breeding poultry, farming and gardening. Bernard tried to avoid politics but she did get involved when Charles Stewart Parnell fell from power and there was disagreements between her workers and the parish priest. She also got involved when some of her workers were victimised by the Black and Tans in 1921. Bernard was able to get the soldiers disciplined. Bernard supported the revival of Gaelic culture and language as she had arranged earlier the building of cottages for workers. She herself organised cart roads to give access to 118 houses.

Legacy The Foxford Woollen Mills are still in business and date their founding to Sister Mary Joseph Arsenius.