The closure of Carlow College, Ireland’s oldest Catholic college, founded in 1782, “marks another significant moment in the life of the Irish Church”, Bishop Paul Dempsey told The Irish Catholic.
Bishop Dempsey is a past pupil of the college and explained that St Patrick’s College (Carlow College) “served as a seminary, educating and forming priests for Irish dioceses and also those serving in English-speaking dioceses across the world.” The bishop explained that over the college’s life, “it has been a centre of learning in philosophy, theology, humanities and social studies.”
Carlow College has begun winding down its activities for a two-year transition period, enabling the transfer of the land and buildings to South East Technological University (SETU), which will take control of the campus by 2028.
“A multi-phased completion process will commence immediately to allow for an orderly phasing out of Carlow College programmes and associated activities,” the college said in a statement.
“All currently enrolled students will be supported to complete their studies and to achieve their intended qualification with Carlow College,” they said. However, no new student intakes will be offered from now on. There are currently around 600 students enrolled at Carlow College, across undergraduate, postgraduate and part-time certificate programmes.
President of Carlow College, St Patrick’s, Fr Conn Ó Maoldhomhnaigh, speaking at the winding down announcement said, “Our priority now is to ensure a carefully planned and supported completion of all academic programmes over the next two years, so that every student currently enrolled at Carlow College can complete their studies with confidence and integrity”. During the next two years, there will also be a “phased redundancy process” for the 87 current college staff.
“May the seeds of faith, hope and love, sown in the hearts of those who taught and studied there for well over 230 years, continue to ‘blossom’ at the heart of the Church it has served so faithfully over its long and illustrious life,” Bishop Dempsey concluded.
