Church of Bom Sucesso, Lisbon

The convento of Bom Sucesso, has a long, rich history, having begun in the Convent of Bom Sucesso, which was founded in the first half of the XVIIth century, during the reign of Phillip IV King of Spain, who was also king of Portugal at that time.

An Irish Dominican, Father Dominic O’Daly had already founded the Corpo Santo community for student priests and was very anxious to found a convent for girls. He met the Countess Iria de Brito who was a devout lady, twice widowed and of great influence and fortune. She had long cherished the idea of establishing in her country estate a Marian shrine with a convent attached. It was then necessary to ask permission of the Spanish King for a convent. The King acceded, but only on condition that O’Daly would recruit a hundred Irish soldiers to fight for him in the Low Countries. This condition, having been fulfilled, Phillip IV authorised at last, by the autumn of 1639 the foundation. She had agreed to a proposal to establish a convent for young Irish women, who, because of religious persecution in Ireland, were unable to become nuns there. On the 12th November of the same year the convent was officially opened and the first entrants, Irish and Portugese, took the religious habit. thus becoming the only Irish Dominican convent at that time,. A Mass was celebrated at which the Dutchess of Mantua (the King’s representative in Portugal) was present, as well as many other Nobles and Dominicans, and a large congregation.

Photos of some restoration works>