Nano Nagle Place is set to launch a new exhibition highlighting the 250th anniversary of the Presentation Sisters, the religious order founded by Killavullen native Nano Nagle, whose vision for education and justice continues to shape the Cork site today.
The exhibition ‘250 Years of The Presentation Sisters; Lighting the Way’ will open to the public on Culture Night on Friday, September 18th 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.
“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,” John Smith, CEO of Nano Nagle Place said, speaking ahead of the launch.
“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.”
FULL SCHEDULE
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.
From 5pm to 9pm, the Global Hub at Nano Nagle Place will host the Irish debut of Ceangailte, a new audiovisual installation by Cork-born, Berlin-based artists David Mathúna and Jake Riordan, presented with a parallel screening in Berlin.
At 6pm, the Conference Space will host 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.
All events are free and open to the public on Friday, 18th September.
