Bank of Ireland – £5 (Five Irish Pounds) – 26 April 1994 Pick# 75a | Numista# 203897

Issued during a pivotal era of Irish currency design, the 1994 Bank of Ireland £5 note from Series C honors Sister Catherine McAuley—an influential figure in 19th-century Irish social reform. As founder of the Sisters of Mercy, McAuley championed education and healthcare for the poor, and her legacy is reflected in both the note’s imagery and its cultural significance. This issue embodies Ireland’s commitment to celebrating national identity through modern banknote artistry, preceding the transition to the euro in 2002.

Issuer: Central Bank of Ireland (Banc Ceannais na hÉireann)
Date of Issue: 26.04.1994
Denomination: £5 (Five Irish Pounds)
Currency: Irish Pound (IEP)
Series: Series C
Catalog References: Pick# 75a, Numista# 203897
Signatories: Maurice Doyle & S. P. Cromien
Dimensions: 120 × 64 mm
Material: Paper
Printer: Central Bank of Ireland, Dublin
Withdrawal Date: 2002 (demonetized)

Obverse Design: Features a right-facing portrait of Sister Catherine McAuley. To the left, the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Dublin symbolizes her contributions to Irish healthcare. Text includes Banc Ceannais na hÉireann and Cúig Phunt (Five Pounds).

Reverse Design: Depicts three children in a classroom setting, with a verse from Antoine Ó Raifteirí’s Irish-language poem Mise Raifteirí an File inscribed on the blackboard. A stylized map of Europe without political borders appears in the background, reinforcing Ireland’s cultural and continental ties.

Designer: Robert Ballagh

Security Features: Watermark of Lady Hazel Lavery, embedded metallic security thread, latent image, and microprinting.