St. Patrick's, Carlow College

St Patrick's, Carlow College, is a liberal arts college located in Carlow, Ireland. The college is the second oldest third level institution in Ireland and was founded in 1782 by James Keeffe, then Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, and his co-adjutor bishop Daniel Delany.

History

Bishop Keeffe initially attempted to open a seminary in Tullow, but instead took out a 999-year lease on the present site. During the nineteenth century, students studied Philosophy, Theology, Mathematics, Languages and Law at Carlow College. It was founded in 1782. The delay in accepting students was due to resistance from the local Church of Ireland Bishop, but the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1793 obviated the need for his permission.

From 1793 to 1892, it educated both lay people and those studying for the priesthood. In 1832, college president Father Andrew Fitzgerald O.P. was imprisoned as part of the Tithe War for his refusal to pay tithes.

In 1840, Carlow College was accredited by the University of London and over the succeeding decades students of the college sat the examinations for primary degrees in Arts (B.A.) and Law (LL.B.) from London.

In May 1847, Carlow College president James Taylor purchased a house and farm of 127 acres at Knockbeg and St Mary's was opened there as a preparatory school to Carlow College. In 1892 lay students were transferred to Knockbeg.

In 1866 Queen's University of Ireland engaged in a dialogue about empowering it to examine and confer degrees on students other than those of the Queen's colleges, the St. Patricks College Carlow Report was conducted and the college was deemed to meet the criteria, as evidenced by the courses examined and conferred by University of London (the report listed all the students and professors at the time), however it was never enacted. This dialogue with the president, James Walshe, and the Queen's senate caused a dispute between Walshe and Cardinal Cullen. Ordained students and staff at the college produced The Carlow College Magazine.

In 1844, the Foreign Missions Fund was established after a bequest from the Rev Maurice Kearney and sometimes called the Kearney Fund. This allowed bishops to foreign missions to adopt and students to avail of bursaries to help them.

Following the University Education (Ireland) Act 1879 all Catholic colleges, including Carlow College, came under a reconstituted Catholic University of Ireland, and affiliated to the new Royal University of Ireland. Hence students could be matriculated and examined by the Royal University.

The National Centre for Liturgy moved to Carlow in 1978 where it was based until it moved to Maynooth in August 1996.

From 1892 to 1989, the college was operating principally as a seminary for the priesthood. Between 1793 and 1993 it is estimated that 3132 priests were ordained in Carlow. In 1989 the college became affiliated to the NCEA, the forerunner of HETAC.

Present

In the 1990s the college transition from its primary role as a seminary and to became a college of the humanities. In 1996, the college began an NCEA Certificate and Diploma course in Social Care. Prior to the foundation of HETAC, a number of its courses were validated by its forerunner the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA). Also about this time the college joined the Central Applications Office CAO for Irish school leavers applying for third-level education. On the 2011 CAO Carlow degrees in Citizenship and Community Studies, Humanities (Philosophy and Theology), English and History and Applied Social Studies in Social Care were offered. The Humanities degrees are recognised for teaching in secondary schools with further study.

Other postgraduate programmes included Higher Diploma in Business Studies in Parish Planning and Administration, Postgraduate Diploma in Equality and Diversity in the Workplace and Master of Arts in Therapeutic Child Care and qualify for tax relief.

In the 2006–07 academic year, the college opened a state-of-the-art library situated in the old college chapel. The library was named in memory of Fr Patrick Brophy, a former president who bequeathed his full library to the college. The new facility incorporated the Delany Archive containing the archives of the Brigidine Sisters, the Patrician Brothers as well as the college and diocese. It effectively charts 200 years of education in the local area. The P.J. Brophy memorial library stocks thousands of texts of the Humanities, in Philosophy, Theology, English Literature, Social Studies and the general Liberal Arts. The opening of the new library coincides with the opening of a new student services centre which is adjacent to the library. On 12 December 2006, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, officially opened the Fr P.J. Brophy Memorial Library and the Kathleen Brennan Student Services Centre where the Students Union offices are located.

In 2021 Carlow College, in association with IT Carlow and Carlow-Kilkenny Skillnet the part-time Level 8 Higher Diploma in Arts in Journalism and New Media Content commenced.

A new Level 9 MA and Postgraduate Diploma in Regional Irish History, was launched in 2021.

Carlow College was successful in 2021 in joining the European, Erasmus Charter in Higher Education (ECHE).

In 2025, there is a student body of approximately 650 students, full and part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate, taking degrees in the humanities (in all fields of philosophy, theology and the liberal arts) and in the fields of social care.

Buildings on the college land

St. Patrick's – main building of the college.

P.J. Brophy Library – former Chapel of Sacred Heart.

John England Room – Lecture hall named after famous former student.

Therry Room – Lecture hall named after famous former student.

Lennon House – student apartments.

• Cathedral of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, Carlow
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• Information and Training Centre (on Tullow Street)

The college is a keen supporter and participant in the annual Carlow Arts Festival, with the college buildings, the cathedral, visual centre and college grounds, used for hosting events, and for the festival. The 37th festival sees the festival HQ in a specially built pavilion on the college grounds.

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