Discover the Nano Nagle centre and restaurant, dedicated to Cork's most famous woman.

Nano Nagle was a Cork native (more specifically from Blackwater) who, amongst many things, opened the aforementioned Convent, along with seven schools for the poor, and founded an almshouse for poor women. But let’s dig into her past and Ireland’s historico-political context first.

Nano Nagle was raised in a Catholic home, meaning that during the Penal Laws, there was no education provided for her in Ireland. Fortunately, having been raised in a privileged context, her parents decided to send her to Paris to do her studies. However, her return to Ireland after her father’s death quickly changed her life path for the greater good. While she returned to Dublin to pay her respects, she visited poor families along with her sister, Ann. Shortly after Ann and their mother’s death, Nano decided to dedicate the remainder of her life to the poor.

Upon her return to Cork during the 1750s, Nano secretly opened a young girls' school not far from today’s remaining site, where students were taught to read, write as well as the foundations of needlework and Catechism. The following ten years were dedicated to opening seven additional mixed schools around Cork. While she lived on Cove street, ideal to visit her schools every day, she would head out to the city streets to visit the poor during her evenings with a lantern. This regular activity would award her with the title as the “Lady of the Lantern”.

Finally, by 1771, she built a convent for the Ursuline sisters, a teacher order from France. This convent later accommodated for her own founded order, “The Institute of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” in 1775. Today, her legacy lives on as her order, now renowned as the Presentation Sisters, continues her mission around the world.

In addition to the convent still present on site, there are additional places to see while paying a visit to the Nagle Centre of Cork.

A first stop to be made is the museum on site, once awarded with the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2021. Whilst it describes Nano’s life in the 18th century in Cork, it also gives a greater overview of the city's struggles during that period. A guided tour includes the original building where Nano’s Order operated as well as the objects owned and used by Nano during her time there. Click here to Book your tour.

Second, as you stroll the gardens and graveyard, you may stumble upon Nano’s burial place by the Ursuline Convent, which today has been beautifully re-arranged and landscaped by flowing water to honour her memory. Not far stands a Victorian-high Gothic Revival chapel built by an Englishman, Geogre Goldie, in 1865 - this is also well worth a visit. To know more about what the Nagle Centre has to offer, visit their Website.

Finally, if you’re feeling peckish, you must try out the garden’s award-winning Good Day Deli, which has been using sustainable foods for over five years. You can Book the restaurant online or phone 0214322107.