WESTCOURT

Less than a mile from the town of Callan Blessed Edmund Rice was born in Westcourt on 1st June, 1762. He was the fourth boy in a family of seven boys and two girls. his parents, Robert Rice and Margaret Tierney were very charitable and good to the poor. At a time when the majority of his fellow catholics suffered the hardship of poverty Robert, his father, was a well-to-do tenant farmer. He managed approximately two hundred acres of good land for which he paid a yearly rent of £300 to the tolerant landlord, Lord Desart. The Rice children were sent to a local Hedge school. The master taught reading, arithmetic and dancing, for which he was paid by the parents. Most children received no education because they were too poor. As a boy, Blessed Edmund invited many of his poor young neighbours to his home to teach them prayers and catechism. When the lesson ended Edmund's mother gave them wholesome food.
The family lived in a very comfortable six roomed thatched house, containing four bedrooms, a spacious parlour and a big kitchen. This house is preserved as a very genuine Heritage Centre, dating back to 1680. No structural alterations have been made to this attractive building during its lifetime. Due to its age and the good condition in which it is maintained it is a source of amazement and pride to the thousands who visit it yearly from all over the world. It contains many items of authentic period furniture, dating back to 1800. The house was lived in by different families, who were descendants of the Rice's through marriage, up to 1965. The Christian brothers negotiated with the then occupants, the O'Neill family, for the purchase of their revered and cherished dwelling. The O'Neills who are splendid neighbours and great devotees of Blessed Edmund, were happy that the brothers took possession of the house and four acres of the farm.

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