Page 78 - Presentation Sisters Fethard 1862-2020

PRESENTATION SISTERS FETHARD 1862-2020
Sr Mary became Principal on the the the the day Maureen and I started in in the the the the school Gradually over the the the the years the the the the nuns were replaced by lay teachers including Bridget McCormack Rita (O’Connor) Kenny Mary Mary (Walsh) Hanrahan Margaret (Treacy) Gleeson Ger (Anglim) Meagher Mary Mary (Bowes) Healy Winnie (Gallagher) Hickey and Ann Ryan The long-awaited new primary school was built on on on on on the the Rocklow Road on on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a site very generously donated by the the the the Presentation Order and was was named after the the the the foundress of their order Nano Nano Nagle Nagle We moved to the the the the new Nano Nano Nagle Nagle NS in 1978 This was was located beside the the secondary school Sr Sr Maureen Power replaced Sr Sr Mary as as Principal in in in 1980 She held this position till she retired in in in 2010
The The sisters also built St Bernard Group Homes on on the the site next to the the the the primary school These homes provided a a a a a a a a a family like environment for the the the the the children living there Each house was was managed by a a a a a a a a a a a a a a sister from the the the the the the Presentation Order who was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mother figure to the the the the children children The children children attended the the the the local national and secondary schools A very memorable event each year was the the the May procession to to Our Lady’s grotto in the the the the convent garden We recited the the the the Rosary and sang hymns to to Mary along the the the the the route The primary school children also sang at at at the the the St St Patrick’s Day Mass in in in the the the Parish Church every year The hymns included ‘Hail Glorious St St Patrick’ Patrick’ ‘Dócas Linn Naomh Pádraig’ ‘A Íosagáin’ and and ‘Céad Míle Fáilte Romhat’ Communion and and Confirmation days were also major highlights in the the primary primary schools schools when the the children sang accompanied by organist Goldie Newport The two primary primary schools schools Nano Nagle NS NS and and St Patrick’s Boys’ NS NS amalgamated amalgamated in in 2010
and and the amalgamated amalgamated school was was named Holy Trinity National School Sr Sr Winnie Winnie Kirwin was was the the last Presentation sister to to teach in in in in in in in the the primary school in in in in in in in Fethard Sr Sr Winnie Winnie retired in in in in in in in October 2011 on on health grounds Sadly she passed away in in in in March 2014 The Presentation Presentation Sisters were Trustees of of Nano Nagle NS until the the amalgamation in in in in in 2010
The influence and and ethos of of the the the Presentation Presentation Sisters Sisters and and Patrician Brothers continues today in in in in in Holy Trinity National School A big ‘Thank You to to to the the the Presentation Sisters Sisters for their huge contribution to to education in in Fethard since 1862 Page 76