St Mary’s Convent: A Historic Aspect of Irish Handsworth

St Mary’s Convent in Handsworth not far from Soho House Museum…the ‘Friends that Forged the Future’ with their Industrial Revolution rooted in Birmingham and the West Midlands

The Iron Room

St Patrick’s Day will be celebrated in Handsworth, as it is across Birmingham, on 17^th March 2017.  Indeed, celebrations commenced last weekend and many Irish from Handsworth joined in or watched Birmingham’s St Patrick’s Parade in Digbeth on 12^th March.  Amongst those enjoying the Parade were Religious Sisters from St Mary’s Convent, Handsworth and they represent an ongoing Irish connection with this part of north Birmingham.

Handsworth today is rightly famous for its diverse communities and rich religious mix and it has long had a strong Irish element, not least in the post-war period as represented by Clare Short, a daughter of Irish parents who grew up in Handsworth and became Member of Parliament for the adjacent Ladywood Constituency (1983-2010).  Clare Short also represents a connection with an older Irish tradition in Handsworth, centred on St Mary’s Convent, Hunter’s Road.  Like so many second generation Irish…

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