Catherine McAuley appointed Mother M. Teresa White as the first Superior of the Galway Foundation in 1840. Teresa had experience establishing new foundations. She accompanied Catherine McAuley to the new foundations in Carlow and Cork in 1837, and then to Bermondsey, England, in 1839. Having given the foundation in Galway a firm beginning, she left there in 1854 to make another foundation in Clifden. In both places, she lost no time in commencing the works of mercy most likely to benefit the poor, including women and children. 

Amelia White was born in 1809 in Kilcarry Cross, Co. Carlow. She was the daughter of Laurence White and his wife, Jane. Amelia was professed in 1835. Her sister Jane also joined the Sisters of Mercy at Baggot Street. Majella O'Keefe's research highlights that “Amelia and Jane had come to Dublin to be presented at the Vice-regal Lodge.” (O’Keefe, “Mother Mary Teresa White”)

In 1833, Mother Teresa White became the 18th sister to join Baggot Street. Catherine McAuley was her novice mistress, and there is ample evidence of the strong affection that Catherine maintained for this young woman. Imbued with the spirit of Catherine, Teresa established a wide range of Mercy Works, which reflected Catherine’s concern for women and children and her conviction that education offered a sustainable pathway out of poverty. Among her many projects and activities were a House of Mercy, a refuge for women, a parish industrial school, visits to the sick, prisons, a workhouse, and hospitals. (O’Keefe, “Mother Mary Teresa White”).

In many of the early foundations, the Sisters faced insults and mistreatment from a few people. At Clifden, the sisters were provided with a sturdy house, but they had no furniture. As always, they were resilient and found ways to cope. Possibly the biggest challenge Teresa faced would have been the dispute that arose between Fr. Daly, the Galway Sisters, and Teresa. It was ultimately resolved, albeit with some pain.

Following its establishment, the Galway Foundation would steadily strengthen and expand. The community's commitment to serving the needy, as well as their dedication to numerous acts of mercy, has had a significant impact on the lives of Galway, the city, and the surrounding countryside. Galway, along with many other Mercy foundations, eventually merged to form the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, which is now based in Dublin, Ireland.

Sullivan, Mary C, ed. The Correspondence of Catherine McAuley 1818 - 1841. Dublin, Co Dublin, Ireland: Four Courts Press Ltd, 2004.