17/06/2026
TALK: Sister Ignatia Gavin - the "Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous”
The Parish of Achill welcome a special delegation from Cleveland Ohio to mark the legacy Of Sr Ignatia Gavin and the Sisters of Charity of St Augustine.
Born Bridget Della Mary Gavin in 1889 in Shanvalley, Co. Mayo, she emigrated to Cleveland, Ohio, with her family in 1896 and joined the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine at 25. Sr. Ignatia played a crucial role in the treatment of alcoholism and is credited with helping to lay the groundwork for the AA movement alongside its founders, Dr. Bob Smith and Bill Wilson.
Affectionately known as the “Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous,” she was involved in the first documented case of treating alcoholism as a medical condition at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio, in 1935. She also contributed to the development and promotion of the now-famous 12-step recovery program. Between 1952 and 1965, she treated over 15,000 patients and supported around 60,000 family members through the Rosary Hall Solarium addiction treatment centre she established in Cleveland.
The trip to Ireland which includes a 2 day stay in Achill is organized by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and their health ministry, the Sister Ignatia Gavin Centre for Addiction Medicine, which is set to open in Cleveland later this year. Sister Judith Ann Karam, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, noted that the Cleveland delegation’s visit to Mayo will mark 175 years of compassionate service by the congregation in the United States.
“This year is also significant as it marks the 60th anniversary of Sr. Ignatia’s passing,” she said. “During the visit, we will celebrate the Mayo County Council Cathaoirleach’s Award for Diaspora Outstanding Achievement 2025, which was posthumously awarded to Sr. Ignatia Gavin.. She was an extraordinary person, and it will be wonderful to see her legacy honoured through these events in her home County Mayo.”
Sr Ignatia Gavin was nominated for this award by the Achill Cleveland Committee in recognition of her tremendous vocation and compassion to the patients she assisted during her lifetime of service.
We are honoured that Achill has been selected as a host venue for a special presentation from Sister Judith Ann Karam, a former Class A Board Member of Alcoholics Anonymous USA and Canada, and Dr. Theodore Parran, Isabel and Carter Wang Professor and Chair in Medical Education at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and Co-Director of Rosary Hall in Cleveland. Sister Ignatia Gavin, CSA, “Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous” and addiction & recovery best practices. in Ted’s ,Cashel , Achill on Sunday June 28th at 4.00pm.There will be light refreshments served . All are welcome.
