Sr Loreto Ní Chonchúir
Ellen O’Connor from Tarbert, Co. Kerry, the second youngest of five, joined the Sisters of Mercy in 1940, taking the name Sr Loreto. In the following year, 1941, at a time when Europe was in the grip of warfare, Sr Loreto first arrived at Mary Immaculate.
In 1943, 52 students graduated from Mary Immaculate, of whom Sr Loreto was one. Having qualified from Mary Immaculate College in 1943, Sr Loreto taught in the primary school in Henry Street (now the Social Services Centre) and then went to study for a BA (Irish and History) at University College Cork (1944-1947), which was followed by a Higher Diploma in Education (1948). She then conducted research on the Hedge Schools of Kerry, for which she was awarded an MA in Education in 1949. In that same year, she was appointed to the staff of the College where she taught History and Irish before she was appointed President in 1959.
During her two decades at the helm, she presided over significant development and change. ‘Mary I’s’ enviable reputation as a centre of excellence in teacher education was significantly enhanced in the 1960s. Under her tenure the College was the first College of Education to become a Recognised College of the National University of Ireland and the first to introduce the Bachelor of Education (B Ed) Degree. Sr Loreto played a key role in negotiating the relationship with the National University of Ireland, which became the College’s degree awarding body. Sr Loreto retired in 1979 and passed away in 2011.
