Lord Mayor Hosts Civic Reception to Celebrate 250 Years of the Presentation Sisters in Cork

17/09/2026

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damian Boylan, tonight hosted a Civic Reception at Cork City Hall to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Presentation Sisters, honouring a remarkable legacy of education, compassion, and service that began in Cork and has since touched lives around the world.

The reception brought together civic, educational, religious and diplomatic representatives to mark this significant milestone in the history of Cork City.  Among those in attendance were Sr. Sharon Fagan, Congregation Lead of the Presentation Sisters, Josselin De Gaul, Honorary Consul of France in Cork, and Professor Grace Neville, recipient of France's highest civilian honour, the Légion d'honneur.

Welcoming guests to City Hall, the Lord Mayor paid tribute to the enduring contribution of the Presentation Sisters and to the vision of their founder, Nano Nagle, whose work transformed lives in Cork and beyond.

Speaking at the reception The Lord Mayor said:

"It is a great honour for Cork City Council to host this Civic Reception marking the 250th anniversary of the Presentation Sisters. This is a story that began here in Cork, when Nano Nagle responded to the poverty and exclusion, she witnessed around her with extraordinary courage and determination.

As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we also express our gratitude to the Presentation Sisters for 250 years of radical compassion, educational leadership and unwavering service to communities in Cork, throughout Ireland and around the world."

Speaking on behalf of the Presentation Sisters, Sr. Sharon Fagan reflected on Nano Nagle's response to the darkness of poverty and exclusion in eighteenth-century Cork and on the global impact of the congregation she founded.

She noted that while the Presentation Sisters now serve in countries across several continents, their story remains deeply rooted in Cork, where Nano's remains rest at Nano Nagle Place. Sr. Sharon described Nano's legacy as "a living challenge" which continues to call people to address inequality, isolation and injustice in today's world.

Addressing the gathering on behalf of the Embassy of France in Ireland, Josselin De Gaul highlighted the historical and cultural connections between France and the life of Nano Nagle.

He noted that the anniversary held particular significance during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026, when Cork has been paired with France as part of a programme celebrating European partnerships and cultural exchange.

Speaking at the reception, Mr De Gaul said:

"Nano Nagle's story is a powerful example of the longstanding relationship between Cork, Ireland and France. Her education and formative years in France, as well as her later connections with the Ursuline community in Paris, formed an important part of the journey that led to the foundation of her congregation here in Cork in 1775.

Mr De Gaul also congratulated the Presentation Sisters and thanked Cork City Council for recognising the significance of the anniversary, describing the congregation's contribution as "250 years of education, service and dedication in Cork and far beyond."

The reception also heard from Professor Grace Neville, retired Professor of French and former Vice-President of UCC, who spoke about the important French influences on Nano Nagle's life and the enduring connections between Cork and France. Professor Neville brought a unique personal perspective to the occasion, having also spent five years as a student at Nano Nagle.

The Civic Reception formed part of the wider celebrations commemorating the founding of the Congregation of Presentation Sisters in Cork in 1775 and recognising its profound contribution to education, social development and human dignity over the last 250 years.