Subfonds IE/PBVM/30 - Youghal Convent Papers

16 boxes

In April 1934, the Presentation Community in Doneraile, Co. Cork, finalized a decision, with the approval of the Church authorities, to make a foundation in Youghal. Prior to this date, Angelina Gould (Goold), born in Lisbon, Portugal, of wealthy and generous Irish parentage had entered the convent in Doneraile and made Profession of Vows there in 1829. She had already set up a Trust-fund for Convents, Parishes, Schools and other projects in the diocese of Cloyne. Angelina took the name Sister Mary Magdalen in the Presentation Congregation. Her wealthy family made many donations to worthy causes in the Cork area. Her mother Frances and her sister Christina lived for a time in Youghal and are buried in the Community burial-ground in North Abbey Cemetery.

On 18 August 1834, Sister Magdalen Gould, together with Sister M. Joseph Lloyd(e) and Sister M. Francis Hynes set off on mission from Doneraile, stayed overnight at Presentation Convent in Midleton and the next day they arrived in Youghal to a site which had been a Franciscan Friary six centuries before, a hallowed place. Almost immediately the schools were opened. The children flocked in crowds to the school: the number was so great that many of those who applied for admittance could not be received. The Sunday school for adults was also opened. So, the groundwork of Community-life and ministry through education was launched, with focus on family, always moving towards integration.

In 1845…1847 and following years the impact of Famine was heavy in Youghal, poverty and unemployment were severe. Presentation Sisters worked unceasingly to relieve poverty through education of children in the school and with girls and women in the wider community. The Youghal Lace School was established, specializing in the now-famous Needlepoint Lace. The lace-designs and garments achieved world-fame for creativity, beauty and function. By 1897 the Youghal Co-operative Society was formed, with published ‘Rules’ and an Administrative Committee.

A new and larger convent was blessed and opened in 1872 and the older building was used for school-space. In 1961, the Sisters opened a new mission in Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.A. in the diocese of Natchez-Jackson. Meanwhile in Youghal numbers in the school were increasing and the need for Secondary education was evident. New buildings had to be provided in 1888, 1960, 1969 and 1976. Diocesan rationalization meant that student numbers peaked to over 800 in Primary School in 1984; by 1995 further amalgamation took place between the Christian Brothers’ School and Presentation School into one Parish School on Presentation site.

Adaptation, renewal, growth and decline being part of ongoing human realities and due to a decline in the number of vocations in the Congregation, the community vacated the Convent of the Sacred Heart in South Abbey and relocated to a smaller living-space on Front Strand, Youghal, in 1990. The traditional convent in South Abbey was sold and the deceased Sisters were reinterred in North Abbey Cemetery. The large convent is now an International School under Spanish ownership for seasonal use.

In 1972 a large part of the property, which had served the ministries well in earlier years, was leased at a nominal fee to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, for vacation and respite for people in need of a healthy holiday by the sea. Transition of ownership to the Society was completed in 1992.

Some treasures of Youghal Lace have been entrusted to the National Museum, Dublin, (Costume and Textile) and some to the Cork Museum in Fitzgerald Park. Most of the Youghal Lace collection is stored in the Presentation Sisters Congregational Archives and Nano Nagle Place, Douglas Street, Cork.

As the number of Sisters decreased the decision was taken to close the convent on Front Strand on 31 August 2023. A Mass of thanksgiving and a reception was held for the Sisters. The remaining three Sisters were assigned to Presentation Convent, Midleton, Co. Cork.

The fonds form part of the archival collection of the Presentation Sisters South West Province.
Previously this collection was held at the Convent of the Sacred Heart Youghal at the Presentation Sisters house on Front Strand Youghal. Thanks are due to Sr Placida Barry who took such interest in this collection and cared for it so well.
The collection is held at Presentation Sisters Congregational Archives, Nano Nagle Place, Douglas Street, Cork City, County Cork.

The collection consists of records relating to the Presentation Community in Youghal from its foundation in 1834 until its closure in 2023. The fonds includes the annals of the community, legal records, maps of the primary school, material relating to religious life, finance and photographs. The collection also consists of a series which relates to the famous Youghal Lace and to the family of Mother Magdalen Gould. The collection includes books related to the history of Youghal town and the local area.

The material has been catalogued and a new arrangement has been imposed upon the fonds. The collection has been divided into fifteen series. All metal staples and fastenings have been removed and replaced with preservation grade materials.

Access is at the discretion of the Presentation archivists. There is an automatic 40- year closure rule on all records
generated by the Presentation Sisters. The access conditions for this collection also observe the 110- year rule on all personal records.

• English

ISAD(G), 2ND ed. (2000); Irish Guidelines for Archival Description (2009)