In 1833, Mother Teresa Ball was invited to open a school in Navan. One of the gifts taken by the Sisters from Rathfarnham was a clock for the new house. Despite the shaking it must endured during the course of the journey from Rathfarnham to Navan by stagecoach, the clock survived and - to this day - keeps perfect time.

Later that same year, a day school was opened in Harcourt Street, Dublin (which later transferred to 53 St Stephen's Green). Schools in North Great George's Street, Dublin (later transferred to River Valley, Swords) and in Dalkey followed.

Early in 1841, Mother Teresa was asked to send Sisters to India. Thus began Loreto's missionary involvement. 1845 saw the Sisters set sail for Mauritius and for Gibraltar. Two years later, Loreto Sisters sailed for Toronto.

In 1851, Loreto Sisters brought the Irish branch of IBVM to England, where the original IBVM also had a number of houses. That year also, the Loreto Sisters went to Spain where they became known as 'the Irish Mothers' or 'the Irish Ladies' (Irlandesas), a title still recognised in that country.

Mother Teresa Ball died in Dalkey in 1861. She is buried in Rathfarnham. The graves of the other former Superiors General of the Irish Branch of the IBVM are also in Rathfarnham.

Today, there are thirty-five 'Loreto' schools in Ireland, though the ministry of the Loreto Sisters are vast and varied.

While many of our Sisters continue to be involved in Education, it is important to note that our ministries have extended beyond the school setting to include such diverse areas as prison and hospital chaplaincy, counselling and spiritual direction, as well as working with women wherever the need arises.

The Irish Branch of the IBVM (Loreto) also has houses in England, Wales, Spain, Gibraltar, Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Australia, USA, Peru and Sudan. In addition to these, there are houses in Italy, Canada, Bangladesh, Seychelles, Zambia, Vietnam, Tanzania, Morocco, Ecuador, Ghana, Albania and East Timor.

The original branch of IBVM, now called the C J (Congregatio Jesu - Congregation of Jesus), under its own Superior General, has houses in many European and Asian countries, in Africa and South America.

One of the best known CJ schools in England is St Mary's College at Ascot, over-looking the famous racecourse. One can also visit the Convent at Mickelgate Bar in York where Mother Teresa Ball entered the IBVM and from where she returned to establish the Irish Branch of the Institute in Dublin.

Loreto in Canada and in the USA, founded from Rathfarnham in the 1800s, constituted the North American branch of the IBVM up until 2003 when the Irish and North American Branches formally united to become one new branch, the Loret(t)o branch.

The Generalate of the Loret(t)o of IBVM is now in Rome. The present Superior General is Sr Marian Moriarty, IBVM.