"We remember the past with thanks
We celebrate the present with joy
We look to the future with hope"

In 2000 we celebrated the fact that the Presentation Sisters have lived and worked in Kilkenny for 200 years. The first Presentation Sisters were Catherine Meighan and Isabella Mc Loughlin who went to Cork to Nano Nagle to become Presentation Sisters. We celebrated the Bi- Centenary in St. Mary's Cathedral on the 25th of September 2000. The Bi- Centenary was to celebrate the Presentation Sisters being in Kilkenny for two hundred years.

At the Mass the Bishop and priests from other parishes came, the Mayor also attended with members of the Corporation. Presentation Sisters from all around the world came to attend the Mass.

The girls from the Secondary school danced up the aisle. The girls from fifth class also danced up the aisle. Some girls got to serve. Some girls gave out leaflets for the Mass. The choir from the secondary school sang and some girls from the primary sang too. We had a prayer service in the school hall. The fifth class did the dance that they did at the Mass.

Sr. Maura, our principal lit the millenium candle. We gave presents to Sr. Maura our principal, Sr. Teresa one of our teachers and Sr. Nora, who is head of the convent.

For all that week some girls from sixth class got to talk on the intercom about the Bi- Centenary and what it meant. Fourth, fifth and sixth class had a party and a disco. We had a great time and it was lots of fun.

A plaque was put up on the city wall beside Market Cross, which is the site of the old convent, to commemorate the day, and there was an article in the newspaper about it.

At different times in the past there were other celebrations

1825

In 1825, twenty-five years after the foundation of the Presentation Convent in Kilkenny, a very important visitor came to James's Street. This was Sir Walter Scott, the poet and author of 'Ivanhoe'. He wrote about his visit to the convent.

1900

In 1900 there were great celebrations. High Mass was presided over by the bishop Dr. Abraham Brownrigg. Three other bishops attended: Dr. Croke, Archbishop of Cashel, Dr. O' Callaghan of Cork and Dr. Foley of Kildare & Loughlin. The preacher was Canon Sheehan who wrote many novels, the most popular being 'My New Curate'.

The street between the Cathedral and the convent was decorated. A decorative arch was built from which hung a banner. The banner had gold lettering on a deep red background with the words Blessed Virgin Mary (1800/1900).

After the High Mass a cordon-bleu banquet was served to the guests in the Convent. Later the Reverend Mother and other senior sisters met the Mayor and his entourage who offered their congratulations and best wishes.

Rule of Enclosure:

An interesting fact about the Centenary celebration is that none of the Presentation sisters attended the High Mass of Thanksgiving and Jubilation in St. Mary's Cathedral. This was because the Rule of Enclosure was still in operation, which meant that the sisters could not leave the convent even to go across the street to a historic religion celebration.

After the banquet there was a gala concert in the convent hall. Children from the school performed a humorous sketch followed by dancing & singing. Music performed included the Hallelujah chorus and 'the Bells of Shadow'. The band of Berkshire Regiment played rousing music which added to the festive atmosphere.

1950

In 1950 there were more celebrations. The Bishop Dr. Patrick Collier presided over High Mass in St. Mary's Cathedral. The preacher on that day was Fr. Peter Birch, who later became Bishop of Ossary. General Richard Mulcahy, Minister for Education also attended. After the solemn High Mass a splendid lunch was served to the principal guests of the day. At the lunch the Minister for Education, General Mulcahy spoke of Nano Nagle and her followers and the great work undertaken by them in difficult circumstances "in the service of God through service to his children and his poor". The bishop commended the work of the Presentation sisters throughout the world. An t-Athair D.O'Coillear O.M.I. who was the bishop's brother praised the sisters for "an meid a bhi a dheanamh acu ar son na Gaeilge".

In September 1950, as part of the celebrations, pupils from the Primary and Secondary Schools put on a play called "Our Lady Of Fatima".The play was staged in the Regent Cinema.

Bishop Collier, ever apt with words, wrote:

Well done! Congratulations on the production of "Fatima". I saw what I had often longed to see-the talents and gifts of our ouw schools and convents turned to the presentation of sacred drama on the public stage. You have given a good lead, which I hope will be copied.

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