Cork's Nano Nagle Place to host 250th anniversary celebration  

Cork’s Nano Nagle Place will host the official launch of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Presentation Congregation this weekend.

The anniversary commemorates the founding of the Presentation Congregation on Christmas Eve 1775, when Cork woman Nano Nagle established a movement dedicated to education and care for the most marginalised.

The launch will take place tomorrow close to the site of Nano Nagle’s original schools and convent on Douglas St, now home to Nano Nagle Place.

“Nano Nagle’s vision and courage continue to inspire generations,” said Presentation Sisters congregational leader Sr Sharon Fagan. 

“Her commitment to education and social justice over 250 years ago resonates as strongly today, reminding us of the power of individual initiative to transform communities locally and globally.”

Livestreamed 

The launch event will feature a ritual ceremony, which will be livestreamed to audiences the world, showcasing the global reach of Nano Nagle’s legacy and the continued work of the Presentation Sisters and their collaborators across five continents.

Nano Nagle was a pioneering figure in Irish history whose work transformed access to education, particularly for Catholic girls and children living in poverty, at a time when such efforts were illegal under the Penal Laws.

Beginning with secret cabin schools in mid-18th-century Cork, her work expanded rapidly and laid the foundations for one of the most influential education movements to emerge from Ireland.

Impact 

Her impact has been widely recognised. In 2000, Nano Nagle was named Irish Woman of the Millennium in recognition of her role as a pioneer of female education.

She has also featured prominently in national public polls celebrating Ireland’s most influential historical figures and was recently honoured through UCC’s Women on Walls initiative. In 2013, she was declared Venerable by Pope Francis.

The launch ceremony at Nano Nagle Place will mark the beginning of a year-long programme of events, educational initiatives, and international engagement, celebrating Nano Nagle’s legacy while exploring its relevance for contemporary society.