Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, widely known as Sr Stan, has died at the age of 85. The Religious Sisters of Charity confirmed that she passed away this morning following a short time at St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown.
Born Treasa Kennedy on 19 June 1939 near Lispole on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, she was one of five children in a farming family. At the age of 18, she joined the Religious Sisters of Charity, inspired by the work of Mary Aikenhead, and was professed in January 1960.
Over more than six decades, Sr Stan became one of Ireland’s most influential social activists, known for her work on homelessness, immigration, and social inequality. She founded and co-founded several major organisations that continue to play a key role in Irish society.
In 1985, she established Focus Point, now known as Focus Ireland, after researching the experiences of women facing homelessness in Dublin. It has since become Ireland’s largest voluntary organisation supporting people to find and maintain a home.
In 1998, she founded The Sanctuary, a centre for meditation and spiritual reflection on Stanhope Street in Dublin. Three years later, in 2001, she established the Immigrant Council of Ireland, which provides information, advocacy, and legal support for migrants.
She also co-founded Young Social Innovators (YSI) in 2001, a national initiative encouraging students to engage with social issues and create projects for positive change.
Earlier in her career, Sr Stan worked on developing social services in Kilkenny before becoming the first Chair of the National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty in Ireland. In 1985, she was appointed Transnational Coordinator for the European Rural Anti-Poverty Programme by the European Commission. From 1997 to 2004, she served on the Council of State, appointed by President Mary McAleese.
From 1995 to 2007, she was a member of the General Leadership Team of the Religious Sisters of Charity, a role that placed her at the centre of the Congregation’s global mission and governance.
Throughout her lifetime, Sr Stan received multiple honours for her contribution to Irish society, including the UCD Alumni Award for Social Sciences (2014), the Meteor Humanitarian of the Year Award (2004), and Honorary Doctorates from Trinity College Dublin, UCD, and the Open University. She was also the author of several books, including her autobiography The Road Home.
In a statement, Sr Patricia Lenihan, Superior General of the Religious Sisters of Charity, said: “Sr Stan was a powerful voice for compassion, equality, and systemic change throughout her life. While there is deep sadness, we are confident that her legacy of a life dedicated to the service of others in need will continue to inspire generations of activists and social innovators in Ireland.”
The Religious Sisters of Charity, founded in 1815 by Mary Aikenhead, continue to work in areas including healthcare, education, and social care. The Congregation currently has 265 Sisters living and working across seven countries.
