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Treasa Kennedy was born on 19 June 1939 near [[Lispole]] on the [[Dingle Peninsula]] in County Kerry, Ireland. She described her childhood as carefree and remembered that she felt early that she wanted to help people less advantaged.<ref name=”rteobit”/> In 1958, she left home at age 18<ref name=”rteobit”/> to join the [[Religious Sisters of Charity]]<ref name=”Ryan 2017″/> as Sr Stanislaus Kennedy.<ref name=”rteobit”/> she was first sent to [[Kilkenny]] to help Bishop [[Peter Birch (bishop)|Peter Birch]]; they set up a network of social services including a [[meals on wheels]] program believed to have been one of the first in Ireland.<ref name=”rteobit”/> She moved to Dublin and attended [[University College Dublin]], graduating with a social science degree in 1980. She later completed a master’s degree at the [[University of Manchester]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sr Stanislaus Kennedy |url=https://alumni.ucd.ie/awards/awardee/sr-stanislaus-kennedy/ |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=UCD Alumni Awards |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
Treasa Kennedy was born on 19 June 1939 near [[Lispole]] on the [[Dingle Peninsula]] in County Kerry, Ireland. She described her childhood as carefree and remembered that she felt early that she wanted to help people less advantaged.<ref name=”rteobit”/> In 1958, she left home at age 18<ref name=”rteobit”/> to join the [[Religious Sisters of Charity]]<ref name=”Ryan 2017″/> as Sr Stanislaus Kennedy.<ref name=”rteobit”/> she was first sent to [[Kilkenny]] to help Bishop [[Peter Birch (bishop)|Peter Birch]]; they set up a network of social services including a [[meals on wheels]] program believed to have been one of the first in Ireland.<ref name=”rteobit”/> She moved to Dublin and attended [[University College Dublin]], graduating with a social science degree in 1980. She later completed a master’s degree at the [[University of Manchester]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sr Stanislaus Kennedy |url=https://alumni.ucd.ie/awards/awardee/sr-stanislaus-kennedy/ |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=UCD Alumni Awards |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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Kennedy was the first chair of the Combat Poverty Agency.<ref name=”rteobit”/> In the late 1970s, while leading a task force on the issue, she was described by the [[Minister for Health (Ireland)|Minister for Health]], [[Charles Haughey]], as “the most intransigent woman I’ve ever met”.<ref name=”itobit”>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/obituaries/2025/11/03/sr-stanislaus-kennedy-an-intransigent-woman-with-an-impulse-to-help-those-in-distress/|title=Sr Stanislaus Kennedy: An ‘intransigent woman’ with an impulse to help those in distress|date=3 November 2025|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref> In 1985, she founded the charity [[Focus Ireland]] which is dedicated to finding housing for homeless people.<ref name=”rteobit”/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/sister-stanislaus-kennedy-cancer-battle-21457898|title=Sister Stan bravely opens up about her cancer battle for the first time|first=Sylvia|last=Pownall|date=February 9, 2020|website=Irish Mirror}}</ref> It became the largest voluntary organisation in Ireland.<ref name=Friend>{{cite news |title=Friend of the homeless and invisible poor |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/friend-of-the-homeless-and-invisible-poor-1.228615 |accessdate=9 November 2020 |work=The Irish Times |date=24 December 1998 |language=en}}</ref> In 1998, she founded The Sanctuary, a holistic spirituality centre in Dublin.<ref name=”itobit”/> In 2001, she also set up the [[Immigrant Council of Ireland]] (ICI) as a response to the social needs of new immigrants living in Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/st-stanislaus-kennedy-taoiseach-must-step-up-on-refugee-issue-1.2841402|title=St Stanislaus Kennedy: Taoiseach must step up on refugee issue|first=Sr Stanislaus|last=Kennedy|website=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/director/sr-stanislaus-kennedy|title=Sr Stanislaus Kennedy | Immigrant Council of Ireland|website=www.immigrantcouncil.ie}}</ref> |
Kennedy was the first chair of the Combat Poverty Agency.<ref name=”rteobit”/> In the late 1970s, while leading a task force on the issue, she was described by the [[Minister for Health (Ireland)|Minister for Health]], [[Charles Haughey]], as “the most intransigent woman I’ve ever met”.<ref name=”itobit”>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/obituaries/2025/11/03/sr-stanislaus-kennedy-an-intransigent-woman-with-an-impulse-to-help-those-in-distress/|title=Sr Stanislaus Kennedy: An ‘intransigent woman’ with an impulse to help those in distress|date=3 November 2025|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref> In 1985, she founded the charity [[Focus Ireland]] which is dedicated to finding housing for homeless people.<ref name=”rteobit”/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/sister-stanislaus-kennedy-cancer-battle-21457898|title=Sister Stan bravely opens up about her cancer battle for the first time|first=Sylvia|last=Pownall|date=February 9, 2020|website=Irish Mirror}}</ref> It became the largest voluntary organisation in Ireland.<ref name=Friend>{{cite news |title=Friend of the homeless and invisible poor |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/friend-of-the-homeless-and-invisible-poor-1.228615 |accessdate=9 November 2020 |work=The Irish Times |date=24 December 1998 |language=en}}</ref> In 1998, she founded The Sanctuary, a holistic spirituality centre in Dublin.<ref name=”itobit”/> In 2001, she also set up the [[Immigrant Council of Ireland]] (ICI) as a response to the social needs of new immigrants living in Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/st-stanislaus-kennedy-taoiseach-must-step-up-on-refugee-issue-1.2841402|title=St Stanislaus Kennedy: Taoiseach must step up on refugee issue|first=Sr Stanislaus|last=Kennedy|website=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/director/sr-stanislaus-kennedy|title=Sr Stanislaus Kennedy | Immigrant Council of Ireland|website=www.immigrantcouncil.ie}}</ref> |
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From 1995 to 2007, Kennedy was a member of the general leadership team of the Religious Sisters of Charity. In 2018, in response to protests against the congregation’s involvement in healthcare, she said that “The negativity is directed at nuns. Everything is thrown together, the orphanages, the Magdalene homes, the Tuam babies, Vincent’s hospital – it is all thrown together and mixed up, and it is all anti-nuns.”<ref name=”macdonald”>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sarah-mac-donald-sister-stan-was-a-driving-force-for-societal-change-who-lived-an-extraordinary-life/a694590596.html|title=Sister Stan was a driving force for societal change who lived an extraordinary life|last=Mac Donald|first=Sarah|date=3 November 2025|newspaper=Irish Independent|access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref> |
From 1995 to 2007, Kennedy was a member of the general leadership team of the Religious Sisters of Charity. In 2018, in response to protests against the congregation’s involvement in healthcare, she said that “The negativity is directed at nuns. Everything is thrown together, the orphanages, the Magdalene homes, the Tuam babies, Vincent’s hospital – it is all thrown together and mixed up, and it is all anti-nuns.”<ref name=”macdonald”>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sarah-mac-donald-sister-stan-was-a-driving-force-for-societal-change-who-lived-an-extraordinary-life/a694590596.html|title=Sister Stan was a driving force for societal change who lived an extraordinary life|last=Mac Donald|first=Sarah|date=3 November 2025|newspaper=Irish Independent|access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref> |
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Latest revision as of 18:56, 5 November 2025
Irish nun and activist (1939–2025)
Stanislaus Kennedy (born Treasa Kennedy; 19 June 1939 – 3 November 2025), popularly known as Sister Stan, was an Irish nun, social activist and member of the Irish Council of State. She was best known as the founder of the homelessness charity Focus Ireland.
Treasa Kennedy was born on 19 June 1939 near Lispole on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. She described her childhood as carefree and remembered that she felt early that she wanted to help people less advantaged.[1] In 1958, she left home at age 18[1] to join the Religious Sisters of Charity[2] as Sr Stanislaus Kennedy.[1] she was first sent to Kilkenny to help Bishop Peter Birch; they set up a network of social services including a meals on wheels program believed to have been one of the first in Ireland.[1] She moved to Dublin and attended University College Dublin, graduating with a social science degree in 1980. She later completed a master’s degree at the University of Manchester.[3]
Kennedy was the first chair of the Combat Poverty Agency.[1] In the late 1970s, while leading a task force on the issue, she was described by the Minister for Health, Charles Haughey, as “the most intransigent woman I’ve ever met”.[4] In 1985, she founded the charity Focus Ireland which is dedicated to finding housing for homeless people.[1][5] It became the largest voluntary organisation in Ireland.[6] In 1998, she founded The Sanctuary, a holistic spirituality centre in Dublin.[4] In 2001, she also set up the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) as a response to the social needs of new immigrants living in Ireland.[1][7][8]
From 1995 to 2007, Kennedy was a member of the general leadership team of the Religious Sisters of Charity. In 2018, in response to protests against the congregation’s involvement in healthcare, she said that “The negativity is directed at nuns. Everything is thrown together, the orphanages, the Magdalene homes, the Tuam babies, Vincent’s hospital – it is all thrown together and mixed up, and it is all anti-nuns.”[9]
Kennedy was the author of six books published by Transworld Ireland, including her autobiography The Road Home which contains a foreword written by Mary McAleese.[2] Her 2023 book Finding Hope featured contributions from the Dalai Lama, Colum McCann and Orla Guerin and was dedicated to Charlie Bird.[9]
Kennedy died on 3 November 2025 at the age of 86. She had been in hospice care. Following her death, President Michael D. Higgins said she was a “fearless advocate for human rights and equality”. Mary McAleese said: “All the things that she set up have a longevity because she forward planned. She’s left a phenomenal engine behind her.” The former Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said he knew her as “a joyful, elderly nun, physically slowed down, intellectually, extraordinarily sharp”.[1][10]
In 1997, Kennedy was appointed by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, to the Council of State and served until 2004. In 2014, she was awarded the UCD Alumni Award for Social Sciences.[11]
