Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny

The Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny is an all girls secondary school catering for students between the ages of 12-19 around the Kilkenny city, and the surrounding areas. The school has a Catholic ethos and falls under the Trusteeship of Ceist (Catholic Education Irish Schools Trust).AcademicThe school operates Junior Certificate, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied, the L.C.V.P. programme, also called Link Modules and Leaving Certificate courses.The school has a number of non academic activities for the students. The school collaborates with St Kieran's College in presenting a musical production every year.HistoryIsabella McLoughlin and Catherine Meighan trained in Cove Lane in Cork City with the Presentation Sisters which had been founded by Nano Nagle. Isabella became Sr. M. Joseph McLoughlin, aged 23 and Catherine became Sr M. de Sales Meighan in June 1800. The two young women were from St. Mary's Parish Kilkenny city. The Bishop of Ossory, Dr. James Lanigan wanted to bring the kind of caring for the sick and education of the poor to come to Killkenny and he arranged for the Sisters to come to the city in September 1800. With the permission given by Bishop Hamilton of the Church of Ireland they were able to open a convent and school in Kilkenny a month later. Permission was needed due to the continued Penal Laws. The nuns were noted for having worn their habits as soon as they took over the building.