Loreto the Green, and 1916
An exhibition showcasing items from Convent Collections, UCD Digital Library.The Annals from Loreto Convent, St Stephen’s Green, record events unfolding during Easter Week, 1916
By The Library of University College Dublin
Collection held by IBVM (Loreto) Institute and Provincial Archives, Dublin.
Loreto Schools Annals (2016) by Brian Kelly and Deirdre RafteryThe Library of University College Dublin
Deirdre Raftery, Assoc. Professor, UCD School of Education talks about how the project came about.
Loreto Sisters, photographed at Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham Dublin (1905-08-15) by Mother Michael Corcoran IBVM, Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, Dublin and Deirdre Raftery, University College DublinThe Library of University College Dublin
While informal photographs of communities of nuns are rare, the Superior, Mother Michael Corcoran, was an avid photographer and took this image.
Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin: senior classroom (1905-03-14/1950) by UnknownThe Library of University College Dublin
Loreto College followed the academic curriculum of the Intermediate Education Board, which included modern and classical languages, mathematics and history.
Loreto Schools (1905-07-08) by Brian Kelly and Deirdre RafteryThe Library of University College Dublin
By 1916, there were over 200 girls following the Intermediate curriculum at the college, and 27 Sisters provided almost all of the instruction.
Loreto and the Easter Rising, 1916
On 24th April, a group of pupils from Loreto College hastily returned from a walk near St Stephen’s Green, having heard shots. Inside the convent, the nuns watched activity in St Stephen’s Green, and saw men and women block the park gates and start to dig trenches.
Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, Dublin: farm workers (1905-03-19) by Mother Michael Corcoran IBVM, Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, Dublin. and Deirdre Raftery, University College DublinThe Library of University College Dublin
Meanwhile, at Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, farm workers Thomas Corbally and James Waddock suddenly abandoned work. They were following an order issued by Padraig Pearse to collect at Rathfarnham Church, with the Rathfarnham Company of Irish Volunteers, and proceed to Dublin city.
Annals of Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, 24 April 1916. (1905-03-30) by Loreto Sister annalist (name unknown). Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, DublinThe Library of University College Dublin
.."the GPO had been seized by the Sinn Feiners"...
.."the GPO had been seized by the Sinn Feiners"...
Annals of Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, 24 - 25 April 1916. (1905-03-30) by Loreto Sister annalist (name unknown). Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, DublinThe Library of University College Dublin
.."In order to avoid stray bullets all removed to the back of the house."..
.."In order to avoid stray bullets all removed to the back of the house."..
Annals of Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, 25-26 April 1916. (1905-03-30) by Loreto Sister annalist (name unknown). Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, DublinThe Library of University College Dublin
.."the dead bodies of Sinn Feiners lay in the trenches."..
The route from Loreto Convent Rathfarnam to Loreto on the Green (1903) by Francis Ball and University College DublinThe Library of University College Dublin
Although Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, was approximately 8km from the city centre, the Sisters could see and hear the effects of the rebellion from their convent.
Irish Rebellion May 1916 : Sackville Street in flames. (1905-03-30) by UnknownThe Library of University College Dublin
By Thursday, April 27th the nuns could see the fires from the burning buildings light up the night sky.
Annals of Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, 27-28 April 1916. (1905-03-30) by Loreto Sister annalist (name unknown). Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, DublinThe Library of University College Dublin
.."A German ship carrying ammunition to the insurgents had been seized"..
Annals of Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, 28 -30 April 1916. (1905-03-30) by Loreto Sister annalist (name unknown). Loreto Convent, St Stephen's Green, DublinThe Library of University College Dublin
.."One stray bullet shot through the window of Mother Francis Jerome's cell, passed through the glass and shutter and then struck the opposite wall, then fell on her bed awakening her"..
.."In the afternoon so scarce was bread that a lady from Merrion Square sent up her chauffeur to ask if we could spare a few loaves. We were glad to be able to oblige her"..
.."We were all advised to keep indoors not even to go into our grounds"..
Two-page typed letter from Mother Michael Corcoran, Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, to Fr. Ryan S.J., 14 May 1916. (1905-03-30) by Mother Michael Corcoran IBVM, Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, Dublin.The Library of University College Dublin
.."the crash of a bullet through her window pane"..
1916 military permit, allowing travel (1905-03-30) by Office of the Assistant Provost Marshal, Dublin.The Library of University College Dublin
Convent Collections, UCD Digital Library (1905-07-08) by University College DublinThe Library of University College Dublin
Dr John B. Howard, UCD University Librarian; Kathleen Fitzgerald, IBVM; Áine McHugh, Archivist, IBVM; Assoc. Professor Deirdre Raftery, UCD, Project Director, Convent Collections.
Collection held by IBVM (Loreto) Institute and Provincial Archives, Dublin.
Images © IBVM (Loreto) Institute and Provincial Archives, Dublin.
Text © Convent Collections, UCD Digital Library.
Published by UCD Digital Library.
© All rights reserved. Material published here may not be reproduced without permission from University College Dublin and the IBVM (Loreto) Institute and Provincial Archives, Dublin.
Acknowledgements
Irish Research Council
(Decade of Centenaries Award)
Assoc. Professor Deirdre Raftery, UCD
(Project Director, Convent Collections)
Jane Burns, Ellen Regan
(Project Researchers, UCD School of Education)
IBVM (Loreto) Institute and Provincial Archives, Dublin:
Áine McHugh (Archivist); Kathleen Fitzgerald IBVM.
UCD Digital Library:
Dr John B. Howard, Julia Barrett, Audrey Drohan, Peter Clarke, Órna Roche, Dani Montes
UCD Library Outreach:
Ros Pan
Media Services:
Brian Kelly
