Born Helena Collins, at Woodfield, Sam's Cross near Rosscarbery, County Cork, she was the fifth and last surviving of the eight children born to Michael John Collins (1816-1897) and Marianne née O'Brien (1852-1907).
Helena decided to devote her life to God and joined the convent taking the name Mary Celestine, but was often referred to as simply Sr Celestine. She spent the majority of her life in England only returning to her native Ireland on three occasions, one to attend the funeral of her youngest brother General Michael Collins after his assassination in 1922. She frequently wrote to her siblings and many nieces and nephews in Ireland especially for Christmas and Easter.
Helena decided to devote her life to God and joined the convent taking the name Mary Celestine, but was often referred to as simply Sr Celestine. She spent the majority of her life in England only returning to her native Ireland on three occasions, one to attend the funeral of her youngest brother General Michael Collins after his assassination in 1922. She frequently wrote to her siblings and many nieces and nephews in Ireland especially for Christmas and Easter.
Born Helena Collins, at Woodfield, Sam's Cross near Rosscarbery, County Cork, she was the fifth and last surviving of the eight children born to Michael John Collins (1816-1897) and Marianne née O'Brien (1852-1907).
Helena decided to devote her life to God and joined the convent taking the name Mary Celestine, but was often referred to as simply Sr Celestine. She spent the majority of her life in England only returning to her native Ireland on three occasions, one to attend the funeral of her youngest brother General Michael Collins after his assassination in 1922. She frequently wrote to her siblings and many nieces and nephews in Ireland especially for Christmas and Easter.
Helena decided to devote her life to God and joined the convent taking the name Mary Celestine, but was often referred to as simply Sr Celestine. She spent the majority of her life in England only returning to her native Ireland on three occasions, one to attend the funeral of her youngest brother General Michael Collins after his assassination in 1922. She frequently wrote to her siblings and many nieces and nephews in Ireland especially for Christmas and Easter.
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