Mother Austin Dalton

Mother Austin Dalton, a native of Ballygub, Instioge, Co. Kilkenny was professed as a Carmelite Nun in Mount Carmel Monastery, New Ross, Co. Wexford in 1828.

Elected Prioress on 24th September 1844, she was reelected many times. In all she was 23 years Prioress and died while Prioress on 1st April 1873 of Gastric Fever.

“ She was greatly loved by the sisters, being a very kind and unassuming Mother and very zealous and benevolent Prioress” ( quote from the Annals)

There is an interesting story as to how the nuns came to specialise in the making of beautiful lace. One day a travelling Jewish pedlar arrived at the convent and displayed his wares. It was Mother Dalton who interviewed him and was so struck by the loveliness of the old pieces of lace he had for sale, bought some. One source dates this as 1842 but another as 1844. She unravelled it stitch by stitch to discover the pattern. Eventually, the New Ross adaption of this lace rivaled the famous products of Youghal, Limerick, and Kenmare.