Nano Nagle, founder of the Presentation Sisters in Ireland, has been declared Venerable by Pope Francis. It means she has passed the second of four steps to canonisation. A miracle through her intercession is required before she is declared "blessed" and two miracles before she becomes a saint.
Honora Nagle was born at Ballygriffin, Co Cork, in 1718 to a land-owning Catholic family who lost most of their possessions because of their faith.
She dedicated her life to working with the poorest. A pioneer of Catholic education, she began in 1754 with a school at Cove Lane, Cork. Soon this led to a network of schools across Ireland and abroad. She founded the Presentation Sisters in 1775, before her death in 1784.
Yesterday head of the congregation leadership team for the Presentation Sisters Sr Mary Deane, said: "We are delighted. . . the Universal Church has recognised Nano as a woman of faith, hope and heroic virtue whose vision and work transformed the lives of so many."
