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 LondonCarlow College Report HETAC 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.Paul Cullen and his contemporaries with their letters from 1820-1902, by Peadar Mac Suibhne, Published in 1965, Leinster Leader (Naas)Minutes of the Senate of the University of London - 1 January – 22 July 1840
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.St. Mary's College, Knockbeg rootsweb 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 ReportSt. Patrick's College Carlow Report, 1866 Introduction Printed by T. Price, 55 Dublin St. 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,Page 96, Ireland Since the Famine by F.S.L. Lyons, Fontana Press, (1971) 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.National Centre of Liturgy - Who we are, liturgy-ireland.ie. Accessed 30 September 2022.
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.William L. Smith Irish priests in the United States: a vanishing subculture. Accessed 30 September 2022. In 1989 the college became affiliated to the NCEA, the forerunner of HETAC."Carlow College adapts to Changing Times", Irish Times, 4 August 2003.
In 1993, a stone cross by the German artist Paul Schneider was placed in the grounds to celebrate its bicentenary. A lecture was also given by former college president Bishop Ryan.The Once and Future Church: Carlow College Bicentenary Lecture by L. Ryan (1993).
In 1995, full-time degree students became entitled to the Irish government's free fees scheme and local authority grants.Written Answers. - Free Tuition Initiative, Minister for Education Niamh Bhreathnach Dáil Éireann, 14 November 1995.
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; John Therry, Irish-Australian priest; Ireland's first cardinal, Paul Cullen; the artist Frank O'Meara; the Young Irelander and land-reform theorist, James Fintan Lalor, and Fenian John O'Leary. Daniel O'Connell, 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 was James Fintan Lalor's brother, Richard Lalor, Irish Nationalist MP for Queens County.
The Rev William Clancy (1802–1847), missionary and bishop in the United States and British Guiana, studied at Carlow.
The Jesuit and first president of UCD, the Rev 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 had attended Carlow, including Francis Hearn, who was later executed.Francis Hearn - 1798 Rebellion and Waterford, waterfordcountymuseum.org. Accessed 30 September 2022.
The Rt Rev Michael Collins, Bishop of Cloyne, who was expelled from Maynooth due to his support for Robert Emmet's 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 at Carlow College, a post he held until 1834. Amongst his pupils were the aforementioned Lalor brothers. 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. Poet and teacher William A. Byrne (William Dara) also 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.
British general Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny (1840–1914) was also educated as a lay student at Carlow College.Kelly-Kenny, GENERAL SIR THOMAS, G.C.V.O., Catholics Who's Who, F. C. (Francis Cowley) Burnand.
Rev 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.
Nationalist activist Kevin O'Higgins studied for a while at Carlow College, after he was expelled from Maynooth College in 1911 for smoking.Kevin O'Higgins www.ucc.ie.
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, among others.
Lawrence Duffy, current bishop of Clogher, studied in Carlow. Bishop elect of Achonry Paul Dempsey also studied in Carlow.
Notable professors Among the first professors were French refugees following the revolution, Abbés Noget, Chabout and Labruné.
Patrick J. (P.J.) Brophy (1919 – 1998) professor (1944-1974), president (1970–74) Thomas Croke, Archbishop of Cashel, GAA Patron, taught for a time at Carlow 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 to 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.Ecclesiastics at Carlow College play rugby. Carlow College Rugby Club formed. Chronology of Carlow Cricket. In 1976 St. Patrick's College, Carlow defeated St Patrick's College, Thurles, to win the Higher Education Hurling League.'Strong Sprinkling of Wicklow Men recall St Patricks College Victory' by Martin Doogue, Wicklow People, 23 April 2014.
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.THE RIGHT REV. JAMES WALSHE.D.D BISHOP OF KILDARE AND LEIGHLIN. COLLECTIONS RELATING TO THE DIOCESES OF KILDARE AND LEIGHLIN BY M, COMERFORD, 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), parish priest in Portlaoise. James J. Conway V.G. (1941–1948), vice-president (1937–1941) 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) p* Conn Ó Maoldhomhnaigh (2015–present), previously vice-presidentKildare and Leighlin Diocesan Appointments announced www.carlowcathedral.ie
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.Courses PC Carlow College Central Applications Office 2011 The Humanities degrees are recognised for teaching in secondary schools with further study.Recognised Post-primary Teaching Qualifications The Teaching CouncilQUALIFICATIONS RECOGNISED BY REGISTRATION COUNCIL FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADMISSION TO THE REGISTER OF SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ATSI Website, 2002
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.Post Graduate Courses eligible for tax relief in the 2010/2011 Academic Year www.revenue.ie