Exhibition on Presentation Sisters’ 250 years opens on Culture Night at Nano Nagle Place

Nano Nagle Place is set to launch a new exhibition highlighting the 250th anniversary of the Presentation Sisters, the religious order founded by Nano Nagle.

The exhibition — 250 Years of The Presentation Sisters; Lighting the Way — will open to the public tomorrow during Culture Night, and will be in place through to the summer of 2027.

Visitors will be taken on an immersive journey from the foundation of the order in 18th century Cork to its growth across more than 20 countries around the world.

Traditional native dishes and recipes from the different cultures in which the sisters have lived and worked will be on display, while visitors will be invited to contribute their own recipes to reflect the many cultures and traditions represented by those who visit.

Nano Nagle Place chief executive John Smith said: “250 years is such a significant milestone for the Presentation Sisters, and we here at Nano Nagle Place are so proud to be able to host this important exhibition, which offers a global lens on the Presentation story.

“This exhibition builds on our previous exhibitions, which focused first on Cork and then on the growth of the Presentation order across Ireland — and now, for the first time, the global story takes pride of place.

“Launching this on Culture Night is highly significant for us, as we welcome so many people to our site on what is one of the most significant heritage moments in our calendar.”

The exhibition launch forms the centrepiece of a wider programme of free public events taking place at Nano Nagle Place as part of Culture Night 2026.

They include the Irish debut of Ceangailte, an audiovisual installation by Cork-born, Berlin-based artists David Mathúna and Jake Riordan. There will also be a screening of Drowned Land, a documentary by director and producer Colleen Thurston exploring environmental justice, indigenous resilience, and the fight to protect Oklahoma’s Kiamichi River.