Centenary celebrations at Ursulines in Blackrock

The Ursuline College Blackrock is celebrating its centenary this winter marking 200 years since the Ursuline Sisters moved from their original site at Nano Nagle’s Douglas Street school and convent complex to their current site in Blackrock in 1825.

A number of events are earmarked from a bicentennial gala dinner to a book launch. A bicentennial gala has just been held in recent weeks at which there was a photographic exhibition.

Chair of the organising committee, Oonagh Connolly, noted that the college’s story is an important one to the story of Cork. “Ursuline College Blackrock’s story is Cork’s story. For 200 years, the school has nurtured generations of women to thrive. This celebration honours that legacy while looking to the future.”

In researching Cork in the early Irish Free State, I came across an article in the Cork Examiner on 22 October 1925, which highlighted the centenary celebrations at the Ursuline Convent. The centenary of the establishment was celebrated on 21 October with the celebrations being attended by Bishop Daniel Cohalan, a large number of clergy, and a big gathering of past pupils of the convent schools and other friends of the community. The Cork Examiner writes about an alumni association present that had been formed, which met regularly and attended an annual June retreat.

In honour of the centenary celebrations, the grounds were described as “tastefully decorated” under the supervision of Messrs JS McCarthy, 23 Castle Street. Bunting was displayed. The main hall was decorated with “electric lighting” effects. The arranged luncheon room were noted as “much to admire” and over 400 guests were served lunch. All the work of preparing the luncheon and the decoration were carried out by the pupils of the convent technical schools under the supervision of the sisters teaching them.

After luncheon everyone present enjoyed the entertainment. Scenes from ‘The Merchant of Venice’ were presented and the younger pupils performed a little play entitled ‘A Runaway Song’. Numerous musical pieces were played by a student composed orchestra, who were trained by well-known local musician Signor Grossi. Particular interest was taken in the Centenary Ode, which was composed by a sister of the community, and which was recited by Maura McCarthy called ‘Past and Present’.

The speeches on the day highlighted that the original Ursuline Convent in Cork stood on the site of the present South Presentation Convent, and it was in 1825 that the community moved to the larger Blackrock site.

At the heart of the Blackrock site was a house constructed in 1720 to the design of Reuben Harvey for Christopher Tuckey. The house was later enlarged in 1770 and when the Ursuline Sisters decided to move, they worked with Presentation Brother and architect Augustine Riordan to create a larger premises and to redesign the interior of the house for their needs. Annals of the Ursuline Convent, Blackrock, Cork in 8 volumes (1771-1999) survive and give much historical detail for the earlier years.

The October 1925 Cork Examiner article describes that the community of sisters as “a large one, and is in a very flourishing condition”. The convent buildings are described as “large and commodious”, and are described as “picturesquely situated in extensive grounds that constitute a beautiful setting, with their broad walks and well-kept lawns”. Other buildings were built on the campus as the nineteenth century progressed.

The newspaper further relates that the community of sisters are chiefly concerned with the “education and training of Catholic girls”, and they managed and taught in no less than three schools in Cork and Blackrock.

At the convent itself was the boarding school, which accommodated a large number of pupils, and in which was taught special courses of music and painting, in addition to literature, mathematics, religion, and other subjects which made up the curriculum of the day school. In particular, it is noted that care was taken with the teaching of Irish, which was carried out by a native Irish speaker, and there was also a German speaker at the convent.

In 1924, a special technical class was opened with up-to-date equipment. The Cork Examiner highlighted that the equipment of the schools was modern. “Special laboratories, etc, that have been filled up are evidence of the community’s readiness to advance according to the requirements of the times. The most recent need in training, namely, domestic economy, was provided for by fitting up a splendid new kitchen, modernly equipped – said to be one of the first of its kind in Ireland – and education in all branches of housecraft – cooking, laundry, dressmaking, first aid, nursing, etc. – is carried out.”

Many forms of recreation were also available to the pupils, and in addition to the gymnasium and swimming facilities students also had the opportunity of playing hockey, tennis and other games. Medical advice and a mini hospital was also available within the convent with both the latter aimed for the children in the boarding school section if they needed them.

In addition to the boarding school, the sisters taught 140 pupils of the local Blackrock National School, and also the 300 pupils of the day school of St Angela's on St Patrick's Hill. The latter school was founded by Rev. Mother Louisa, under the patronage and under the request of Bishop O'Callaghan in 1887.

In addition to founding the Cork establishments, the community at Blackrock was also chiefly responsible for the establishment of other Ursuline convents at Thurles, Waterford and Sligo. The community at Blackrock had also established a public library for the people of the district.

Ursuline College Blackrock has a Facebook page, which highlights their bicentenary events coming up and events, which were held earlier year.