Looking back at convent days on Culture Night

THE sharing of stories from past pupils of the Presentation Convent and Sr. De Sales, in An Diseart as part of “Oíche Chultúir” brought two worlds together. The gathering included women from different generations all with one thing in common, their experience of the Convent in Dingle.

The changed culture of Dingle and indeed most of Ireland was put in stark relief as stories were exchanged about life in the town in earlier decades. Indeed the change has been so great that most felt the town is almost unrecognisable from the Dingle they knew as young students of the Pres.

There were stories of nuns censorsing films by placing a hand in front of the projector lens, lest the youth be led astray by actors kissing on screen. It might be regarded as a little over-protective now, but then this was a time when people were shocked to see film actors get into bed without first kneeling down to say their prayers.

Sr. de Sales, as the sole representative of the Presentation Order, retold her story of “feeling like she was being sent to America” when she was asked to leave Tralee and take up a posting in Dingle.

The view of the past pupils of the nuns described a greater than human quality, “The first time I saw a nun eat I was amazed” said one contributor. “It was a culture shock to come from the country to the convent in Dingle, the dress of the nuns created awe in the young students,” added another.

She also recalled the wonder that surrounded one of the Presentation’s former teachers, Ms Cox, who was seen by locals as a very fashionable and glamorous woman, so much so that children would gather just to catch a whiff of her perfume as she got out of her sports car.

The exhibition in the entrance and art table in the hallway curated by artists Domnall O Bric and Eleanor Yates displayed artefacts and photogrpahs of the Sisters providing an insight into their lives in the Convent.

Gillian Sheehy, Elaine Hilliard, Eleanor Yates and Theresa Rafter Moriarty raising a glass (of sherry) to the Presentation Sisters at a Culture Night gathering in An Díseart. ABOVE, RIGHT: Dómhnal Ó Bric, artist and curator amongst an exhibition in An...