History

In 1842 a Philosophy Department was added to the College. Prevailing poverty and hardship caused by the Famine temporarily inhibited the development of St. Patrick’s College. However, by the middle of the 1860s, the College had developed into a major seminary with the addition of a full Theological Faculty.During its long history of service to education, St. Patrick’s College has contributed significantly to society and Church here in Ireland, throughout the rest of the English-speaking world and further afield. Upwards of fifteen hundred graduates of St. Patrick’s College have served as priests in dioceses in Ireland and throughout the English-speaking world. Many more received part of their formation in St. Patrick’s College before transferring to colleges abroad to complete their education. Until recent decades, the majority of our graduates have ministered abroad. In the mid 1970s that trend was reversed with most opting for ministry in Ireland.

While noted for its significant contribution as a major seminary, St. Patrick’s College has also maintained an extern department almost without interruption since its foundation. Lay students, first as boarders and thereafter as day scholars, continued to receive a general education in St. Patrick’s until 1907. From 1909 until 1986 students from the nearby Pallottine College pursued their professional studies for the priesthood in St. Patrick’s College. The introduction of a B.A. Theology degree in 1988 meant that, once again, St. Patrick’s College welcomed lay students to the college.
Besides offering full-time academic programmes, St. Patrick’s College has and continues to serve as a centre for theological, pastoral and spiritual renewal in the region. The College regularly offers short renewal courses to laity, clergy and religious. Since reopening the lay department of this College in 1988, a number of graduates have been making a valuable contribution to education, especially religious education, in second level schools.

Changes in society and Church over recent decades suggested the need for innovative developments in St. Patrick’s College to respond appropriately to present and future educational, pastoral and spiritual needs in the region. In view of this, the College began offering a three year part-time degree in theology, accredited by HETAC, in 2003. This degree was aimed primarily at adults who wanted to further their education in theology. The programme builds on the training, experience and expertise candidates already possess in faith education, and classes are held in the evenings. The College has been running a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Education, Business Studies and Religious Studies since 2003 and held its first graduation for students of this course in 2008.  The success of this programme and a demand for Irish and Religious studies degrees prompted the introduction of a second full-time teacher education degree – Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Education, Irish and Religious Studies in 2009.