St. Patrick’s College
A Proud Educational Heritage
In the late eighteenth century when the initial relaxation to the Penal Laws begun to take place it was the area of education that was first to benefit. This opportunity was not lost on Dr. James O’Keeffe, the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. At the time he was based in Tullow, Co. Carlow. He was unable to secure a site in Tullow in which to begin the development of an educational centre and upon moving to Carlow town he secured a 999 year lease from William Fishbourne for a four acre site in Carlow Town. Construction begun on Carlow College, Ireland’s first post penal Catholic third level institute, in and around 1786, a year before the death of Dr. O’Keeffe. On October 1st 1783 the college opened its doors to its first students.
The “Middle House” of St Patrick’s College which opened in 1783. Photo Carlow County Museum.
In 1819 the south wing was opened to accommodate a secondary school. Over the years due to the growth of both the ecclesiastical and lay college the lay college moved to the outskirts of Carlow town in 1847 and Knockbeg College was established.
The imposing building of St Patrick’s College featuring the middle house and north and south wings. Photo Carlow County Museum.
The Sacred Heart Chapel. Photo Carlow County Museum.
The north wing of the College was opened in 1827 to accommodate the growing student body. To celebrate its centenary the Chapel of the Sacred Heart was erected. From 1892 until 1989 the College functioned almost exclusively as a seminary.
The Sacred Heart Chapel interior before the current alterations to develop the P.J. Brophy Memorial Library.
During the 1990s the College ceased to operate as a seminary and returned to its original role of educating the lay population. There is a growing population of students attending what officially called Carlow College but still commonly referred to by locals as St. Patrick’s College. The college, which has over 500 full time students, promotes humanities and social studies through the provision of certified courses in philosophy, theology, literature and education & social care up to and including post graduate level. Currently major works are nearing completion on the development of new library, research and archive facilities in the former College Chapel with additional new student support services being located close by. For further information on courses and entry requirements visit www.carlowcollege.ie
The granite Cross erected in 1993 to commemorate the bi-centenary of the opening of the College. Photo Carlow County Museum.
Carlow College in 1929 celebrating the 100th anniversary for the granting of Catholic Emancipation. Photo Carlow County Museum, ccm 80-025-d
Carlow is fortunate in that it is home to two third level institutions. I.T. Carlow was founded in 1970 was among the first third level colleges of its kind in Ireland which provides a broad range of academic programmes in the fields of science, engineering, technology and business management. I.T. Carlow has an academic staff of over 200 and a student population of 4,300 (2,800 full-time and 1,500 part-time). For further information on courses and entry requirements visit www.itcarlow.ie
The Monument of Light at Carlow IT. Photo Carlow County Museum.
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