Nano Nagle pedestrian bridge spanning the River Lee in Cork, Ireland. Born in County Cork, Honora “Nano” Nagle was an 18th century pioneer of women’s Catholic education in Ireland. In 1775, she founded the Society of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Unlike most female congregations of the time, the members were not cloistered. Rather, they spent their time in public, building schools and convents and taking care of the poor and the sick.

In 2000, the people of Ireland voted her Irish Woman of the Millennium in recognition of her influence and enduring legacy. Thirteen years later, she was declared “venerable” by Pope Francis.