St Patrick's College, Maynooth

St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth (Irish: Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is a pontifical Catholic university in the town of Maynooth near Dublin, Ireland. The college and national seminary on its grounds are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College of St Patrick by Maynooth College Act 1795. Thomas Pelham, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, introduced a bill for the foundation of a Catholic college, and this was enacted by parliament. It was opened to hold up to 500 students for the Catholic priesthood of whom up to 90 would be ordained each year, and was once the largest seminary in the world. Degrees are awarded by the Pontifical University at Maynooth, which was established by a pontifical charter of 1896.

Type

Pontifical university

Founded

1795

Also known as

Maynooth, Maynooth College, National Seminary for Ireland, Saint Patrick's College