A crucifix on the wall of a classroom Photo: OSV News/Tony Gentile, Reuters. Nano Nagle (1718-1784), the pioneer of education in Ireland, founded, despite legal prohibition, free schools in Cork City for the education of poor girls and boys. Nano also established night classes for the mothers of her pupils. Nano used her vast wealth to finance her schools so that, in her own words, “the pupils might…
