Paul MacCormaic

Sister Stan in the Office of the Sanctuary, 2026

Acrylic and oil on canvas

‘Sister Stanislaus Kennedy was the founder of the homeless charity Focus Ireland and a regular commentator on poverty. She wrote many books, mainly on the subject of meditation, and ran a mindfulness retreat in Dublin’s north inner city. Sister Stan (as she was affectionately known) was born in Kerry in 1939 as Treasa Kennedy and died in November 2025, aged 86. In 2001 she founded the Immigrant Council of Ireland, and was appointed by Mary McAleese to Council of State from 1997 to 2004.’

An tSiúr Stan san Oifig in the Sanctuary, 2026

Aicrileach agus ola ar chanbhás 

‘Ba í an tSiúr Stanislaus Kennedy a bhunaigh an carthanas do dhaoine gan dídean, Focus Ireland, agus labhair sí amach faoi bhochtaineacht go rialta. Is iomaí leabhar a scríobh sí, faoi mhachnamh den chuid is mó, agus bhí tearmann aireachais aici i lár na cathrach thuaidh i mBaile Átha Cliath. Ba i gCiarraí a rugadh an tSiúr Stan (an t-ainm a tugadh uirthi go ceanúil) sa bhliain 1939. Treasa Kennedy an t-ainm a tugadh uirthi ó thús agus cailleadh í i mí na Samhna 2025, nuair a bhí sí 86 bliain d’aois. Sa bhliain 2001, bhunaigh sí An Chomhairle um Inimircigh in Éirinn, agus cheap Máire Mhic Ghiolla Íosa í mar ball den Chomhairle Stáit, ról a chomhlíon sí idir 1997 agus 2004.’

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