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Carlow College Crest

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

History

Bishop Keefe 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 Protestant Bishop, but the passing of the Relief Act of 1792 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 Fr. Andrew Fitzgerald O.P. was imprisoned as part of the Tithe War for his refusal to pay tithes.^[1]

In 1840, Carlow College was accredited by the University of London^[2] 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.^[3][4]
In May 1847, Carlow College president Dr. 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.^[5]
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,^[6] the St. Patricks College Carlow Report^[7] 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.^[1] Ordained students and staff at the college produced The Carlow College Magazine.

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

Following the 1879 University Education (Ireland) Act all Catholic colleges, including Carlow College, came under a reconstituted Catholic University of Ireland,^[8] 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.^[9]

From 1892 up 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.^[10] 1989 seen the college be affiliated to N.C.E.A. the forerunner of HETAC.^[11]

In 1993 a stone cross by the German artist Paul Schneider, was placed in the grounds to celebrate its bi-centenary, also a lecture was given by former college president Bishop Ryan.^[12]

In 1995 full-time degree students became entitled to the Irish Governments free fees scheme and local authority grants.^[13]

Notable alumni

Distinguished among the thousands of its past students was one of the first ever Catholic bishops to be appointed in the United States, John England;^[10] the man who single-handedly brought Catholicism to Australia, John Therry; Ireland's first cardinal, Paul Cullen; the artist Frank O'Meara; the Young Irelander and land-reform theorist, James Fintan Lalor and the Fenian John O'Leary, friend of W. B. Yeats. Daniel O'Connell, also known as 'The Liberator' or 'The Emancipator' and Ireland's predominant political leader in the first half of the nineteenth century, reputedly gave an oration to the Carlow townspeople from the top of the college's front porch. Descendants of O'Connell have studied and taught the college. Also educated in Carlow College were James Fintan Lalor's brothers Richard Lalor, Irish Nationalist, MP for Queens County and Sir Peter Lalor, M.P. Speaker of the Victoria Parliament, Australia.

The Rev. William Clancy (1802–1847) the missionary and bishop in the United States and British Guiana studied at Carlow.

The Jesuit and first president of UCD, Fr. William Delany, received his early education at Carlow.

Some of the 17 students who had been expelled from Maynooth due to their support for the 1798 rebellion went to Carlow, like Francis Hearn who was later executed.^[14]

The Rt. Rev. Michael Collins, Bishop of Cloyne, who was expelled from Maynooth due to his support for the Robert Emmet rebellion completed his studies at Carlow.

The Rev. Daniel William Cahill, an editor of the Dublin Telegraph, attended Carlow College; he returned in 1825, as Professor of Natural Philosophy in Carlow College, a post he held until 1834. Amongst his pupils were the aforementioned Lalor brothers. Dr Cahill's nephew, Patrick Cahill, was also educated at Carlow College, obtaining an LLB from the University of London. He was a supporter of Irish Nationalism and Home Rule and later went on to found the Leinster Leader newspaper.

The nationalist Maurice Leyne and the physician and poet Richard D'Alton Williams(1822–1862) attended Carlow College. The Poet and teacher William A. Byrne, (William Dara) attended Carlow.

Patrick Moriarty OSA was the second president of Villanova College, and instrumental in its setting up, studied at Carlow, before joining the Augustinians.

Patrick Barry, Bishop of St. Augustine, Florida and co-founder of Barry University began his studies for the priesthood at Carlow College in 1890.

The British army general, General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny GCB GCVO (1840–1914) was also educated as a lay student at Carlow College.^[15]

Fr. Thomas Nangle (1889-1972) from Canada, padre of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in the first world war, studied for the priesthood at Carlow, later a Rhodesian farmer and MP.

Michael O'Hanrahan who was executed for his part in the 1916 Easter Rising, was educated in Carlow College Academy.

The nationalist Kevin O'Higgins studied for a while at Carlow College, after he was expelled from Maynooth College in 1911 for smoking.^[16]

A number of the rooms in the college are named after alumni and people associated with the college such as Cobden Hall named after the architect Thomas Cobden who designed the college building, the John England Room and the Therry Room amongst others.

Notable professors

Among the first professors were French refugees following the revolution, Abbés Noget, Chabout and Labruné.

James Warren Doyle, O.E.S.A., Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, campaigner for Catholic Emancipation, and the builder of Carlow cathedral, held a professorship at Carlow College from 1814-1819. He was a professor of theology and was Chair of Rhetoric.

Sports

In 1865 Carlow College Cricket Club established and games played against other carlow and Dublin teams. In 1882 Ecclesiastic students at Carlow College played rugby and Carlow College Rugby Club formed in 1898 they played in the Leinster Senior Cup, in 1912 rugby was reintroduced, as the Irish Nationalism increased Gaelic games became more prominent.^[17]

Presidents of the college

• 
  Henry Staunton (1792–1814)


• 
  Andrew Fitzgerald O.P. (1814–1843)


• 
  James Ignatius Taylor (1843–1850)


• 
  James Walshe (1850–1856) became Bishop in Kildare and Leighlin.^[18]
  


• 
  John Dunne (1856–1864) appointed Parish Priest of Kildare.


• 
  James B. Kavanagh (1864–1880)


• 
  Edward Burke (1880–1892)


• 
  Patrick Foley (1892–1896) became Bishop in Kildare and Leighlin


• 
  John Foley (1896–1937), brother of Bishop Foley, was a professor at Carlow from 1886.


• Thomas Browne (1937–1941), became parish priest in Port Laoise.


• James J. Conway V.G. (1941–1948)


• Martin Brenan (1948-1956)


• 
  Patrick Lennon, (1956-1966) he became Bishop in Kildare and Leighlin.


• Robert Prendergast (1966-1970)


• 
  P.J. Brophy (1970–1974)


• 
  Laurence Ryan (1974–1980), he later became Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin


• Matthew Kelly (1980-1986)


• John McDonald (1986-1994)


• Caoimhín(Kevin) Ó Néill (1994 – 2015)


• Conn Ó Maoldhomhnaigh (2015–present), previously Vice-President^[19]
  

Present

In the 1990s, it reclaimed its primary role as a college of the Humanities for lay people, and it ceased to be a seminary. Today, the college is an accredited institution of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (H.E.T.A.C.), Dublin.^[20] 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 college, on the 2011 CAO there degrees in Citizenship and Community Studies, Humanities (Philosophy and Theology), English and History and Applied Social Studies in Social Care.^[21] The Humanities degrees are recognised for teaching in secondary schools.^[22][23]

Other postgraduate programmes include 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.^[24]

In 2012 the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin will offer the Postgraduate Diploma/Masters in Education in Higher Education at Carlow College.^[25]

Currently, there is an approximate student body of 700 students, full and part-time, taking degrees in the Humanities (in all fields of Philosophy, Theology and the Liberal Arts) and in the fields of Social Care; however, this number is likely to increase in the forthcoming years as the college has built a fine reputation of being a 'home away from home,' as the college has a unique, community-orientated ethos.
A Graduation ceremony takes place each October with awards of Certificate, Diploma and Degrees being awarded. More recently an annual college ball has commenced.

Services and Facilities at the college include Lecture Theatres, the P.J. Brophy Memorial Library, study facilities, IT facilities, Canteen, Students, online learning via moodle.

2018 sees the commencement of an evening course in Local History.^[26]

Graduation

A graduation ceremony takes place each year and is attended by local figures from politics, education and business, as well as family and friends of the graduates. The 2011 graduation ceremony took place on 11 October, where graduates were conferred with their certificates, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in attendance was representatives of HETAC, Cllr. Tom O'Neill, Cathaoirleach of Carlow Town Council, Pat Deering TD, along with other dignitories.^[27]

At the 2013 Graduation ceremony 255 students received their qualifications degrees in Applied Social Sciences, Humanities, English and History, Community Studies, and Masters in Therapeutic Childcare and an MA by Research, Bishop Denis Nulty attended the ceremony^[28]

The 2014 Graduation took place in the college with 242 graduating, along with the conferring ceremony the colleges new Information and Training centre was opened on Tullow Street, by Deputy Ann Phelan TD.^[29]

The 2016 Conferring takes place on 13 November, with the ceremony in the adjoining Cathedral and a reception in the college.

Links with other colleges

In recent years, the college has established special links with Carlow University, Pittsburgh^[30] and with St. Ambrose University, in Davenport, Iowa.^[31]
Other colleges which Carlow hosts study abroad programmes for University of West Florida (Irish Experience Programme),^[32][33]Mount Mercy University, Harper College, Kishwaukee College,^[34] and Parkland College^[35] in Illinois, through the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs and Madison Area Technical College, Wisconsin^[36] these programmes would include excursions, Irish Literature and history courses.

Recent developments within Carlow College

As of the 2006–2007 academic year, the college has opened a magnificently designed state-of-the-art library situated in the old college chapel. The library is named in memory of Fr Patrick Brophy, a former president of the college, who bequeathed his full library to the college. The new facility incorporates the Delany Archive containing the archives of the Brigidine Sisters, the Patrician Brothers as well as the college and diocese.^[37] 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.
2014 seen the opening of the Information and Training Centre on Tullow Street^[29]

Student Activities

History students from the college volunteer to help in the Carlow Museum which neighbours the College. There is a Students' Union, and various sports and societies, which include Debating, Drama, Gaming, Philosophy, Soccer and Gaelic Games. Niall Torris Union President for the 2014-2015 academic year succeeding Terry Behan. The Students' Union also has a Vice-President, Welfare, and Societies Officer.

The College also hosts a mass and carol service in December in the prayer room.

Partnership with Trinity College, Dublin

In November 2007, Carlow College signed on an agreement with Trinity College, Dublin, which allows for a new strategic collaborative partnership in the Humanities and Social Sciences between the two oldest colleges in Ireland.^[38] The partnership has led to the M.Ed. programme in Carlow which commences in September 2012.

Coinciding with this agreement, in 2008, Carlow College played host to a series of History lectures named Re-interpreting Rebellion in Irish History as part of the Michael Slattery lectures. These lectures featured appearances from history lecturers such as Prof. Ciaran Brady, Prof. Jane Ohlmeyer and Dr Michael O' Siochru.

The 2015 lecturer series included talks by Prof. David Dickson, Dr. David Ralph, Prof. David Ditchburn, Dr. Antje Roeder and Prof. Daniel Faas ^[39]

Other recent public lectures such as "The Legacy of Vision: John Henry Newman’s Idea of a University" by Dr Andrew Pierce (Trinity College) and "The Legacy of Vision: John Henry Newman’s Idea of a University" by Prof. Patrica Casey (UCD/Mater Hospital).

National Centre for Contemporary Art and the George Bernard Shaw Theatre

In the spacious grounds of Carlow College is the unique National Centre for Contemporary Art and the George Bernard Shaw Theatre, which officially opened in 2009. The college generously donated a significant portion of its grounds to Carlow County Council to aid the project. The opening of this centre coincides with a new entrance to the grounds of the college from the Old Dublin Road side of Carlow town.

Buildings on the College Land

• St. Patrick's - main Building of the College.


• P.J. Brophy Library - former Chapel of Sacred Heart.


• Cobden Hall - former Chapel named after Architect Thomas Cobden.


• John England Room - Lecture hall named after famous former student.


• Therry Room - Lecture hall named after famous former student.


• 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)^[29]
  

The College is a keen supporter and participant in the annual Carlow Arts Festival,^[40] 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.^[41]

See also

• Institute of Technology, Carlow


• List of universities in the Republic of Ireland

External links

• Carlow College Official website


• Delany Archive

References

Coordinates: 52°50′15″N 6°55′37″W / 52.8376°N 6.9270°W / 52.8376; -6.9270