View source for St Patrick's College, Dublin

{{Short description|Former college of education, merged into Dublin City University in 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox university
|name                  = St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra
|native_name           = Coláiste Phádraig
|image                 = St Pats College Drumcondra.jpg
|image_size            = 200px
|caption               = St Patrick's College, Drumcondra
|motto                 = Intellectum da mihi, Domine
|mottoeng              = Give me understanding, Lord
|tagline               = 
|established           = 1875
|closed                = 2016
|type                  = [[Roman Catholic]]
|staff                 = 
|faculty               = 
|president             = [[Daire Keogh]]
|chancellor            = 
|dean                  = 
|head_label            = 
|head                  = 
|students              = 2,400 (2016)
|undergrad             = 
|postgrad              = 
|doctoral              = 
|profess               = 
|city                  = [[Drumcondra, Dublin|Drumcondra]]
|state                 = [[Dublin]]
|country               = Ireland
|campus                = Urban
|colours               = {{color box|blue}}{{color box|white}}{{color box|yellow}} Blue, white, yellow 
|other_name            = St Pat's
|religious_affiliation = [[Congregation of the Mission]] (Vincentians; 1883–1999)
|academic_affiliations = [[National University of Ireland]] (1975–95)<br />[[Dublin City University]] (1995–2016)
|footnotes             = 
|website               = {{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20040412185449/http://www.spd.dcu.ie}}
|address               = 
|coordinates           = {{Coord|53.3704|-6.2544|display=inline,title|type:edu}}
|logo                  = 
}}

'''St Patrick's College''' ({{langx|ga|Coláiste Phádraig}}), often known as St Pat's,<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 October 1999 |title=Fathers give way to the dedicated lay |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/fathers-give-way-to-the-dedicated-lay-1.243223 |access-date=2022-06-01 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |quote=now beginning as the first lay head of St Pat's}}</ref> was a third level institution in Ireland, the leading function of which was as the country's largest primary teacher training college, which had at one time up to 2,000 students. Founded in [[Drumcondra, Dublin|Drumcondra]], in the northern suburbs of [[Dublin]], in 1875, with a [[Roman Catholic]] ethos, it offered a number of [[undergraduate]] courses, primarily in primary education and arts, and in time [[postgraduate]] courses too, mostly in education and languages.

On 30 September 2016, St Patrick's was dissolved as an institution and incorporated into [[Dublin City University]], along with [[Mater Dei Institute of Education]], [[All Hallows College]], and the [[Church of Ireland College of Education]]. The teacher training elements of those combined institutions currently form DCU's fifth faculty, the ''DCU Institute of Education''. All humanities-based courses at the former St Patrick's were then absorbed by DCU's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The campus of the former college is now known as DCU St Patrick's Campus.

==History==

=== Early years ===
The college was established at 1–2 Drumcondra Road in 1875, moving to Belvedere House in 1883 after its purchase by the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin from the Christian Brothers, when the [[Congregation of the Mission]] (Vincentian) community took over the running of the college. In its first 25 years over 2,000 students graduated from the college. The college trained male students to become primary school teachers; other colleges trained female teachers.

In 1894, a national school (primary) was established on campus and students would practice there.

=== 20th century ===
The campus was redeveloped using a design by [[Andrew Devane]] in the 1960s. This involved the construction of a number of new buildings, which incorporated the historical fabric of the older buildings on the site. A new church and residential blocks were also part of the scheme.<ref>{{Cite book|title=More than concrete blocks : Dublin city's twentieth-century buildings and their stories|publisher=Dublin City Council|others=Natalie De Róiste, Merlo Kelly, Shane O'Toole, Carole Pollard, Paul Tierney|year=2018|isbn=978-1-902703-44-2|editor-last=Rowley|editor-first=Ellen|location=Dublin|pages=347–357|oclc=940282100}}</ref>

Female students were admitted from 1971.<ref name="1971_Female_adm">{{cite book |last1=O'Connor |first1=Maura |title=The Development of Infant Education in Ireland, 1838-1948: Epochs and Eras |date=2010 |publisher=Peter Lang |location=Bern, Switzerland, etc. |isbn=9783034301428 |page=133 |edition=1st}}</ref>

==== Linkage with Dublin City University ====
[[File:Cregan Library, St Patrick's College, DCU campus.jpg|alt=Library building from front entrance on a grey day.|thumb|Cregan Library, St Patrick's College in November 2022]]
St Patrick's College of Education was a recognised college of the [[National University of Ireland]] from 1975 to 1995.<ref>''St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, 1875-2000:- A history'', edited by James Kelly, Four Courts press</ref> In 1993, the college commenced its association with the nearby [[Dublin City University]] (DCU) which had been raised to university status in 1989. In 1995 the college of education formally ended its connection with the NUI and became a college of DCU.

The college developed a number of arts and humanities undergraduate and postgraduate courses with DCU.

The Vincentian administration of the college ended in 1999. In 2008 the college, along with other local education colleges, [[Mater Dei Institute of Education|Mater Dei]] and [[All Hallows College|All Hallows]], signed a new linkage agreement with [[Dublin City University]].<ref>[http://www.taoiseach.ie/eng/Government_Press_Office/Taoiseach%27s_Speeches_2008/Speech_by_the_Taoiseach_Mr_Bertie_Ahern_T_D_at_the_signing_of_a_new_linkage_agreement_and_revised_linkage_agreements_on_Monday_4_February_2008_at_3_30pm.html Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., at the signing of a new linkage agreement and revised linkage agreements between All Hallows College, St. Patrick's College, the Mater Dei Institute and the Governing Authority of Dublin City University on Monday, 4 February 2008 at 3.30pm]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In May 2012, it was announced that there would be a €40 million investment in facilities at the college to provide for 2,500 students.<ref>[http://www.thejournal.ie/quinn-announces-e40m-upgrade-for-st-pats-teacher-college-449642-May2012/ Quinn announces €40m upgrade for St Pat’s teacher college] www.journal.ie 14 May 2012</ref>

==== Presidents of the College ====
[[Daire Keogh]], of the history department, was the 14th and last president of the college, from 2012 to 2016, taking over from fellow historian Pauric Travers (1999-2012), in September 2012.<ref>[http://www.irishcatholic.ie/content/st-patricks-names-new-president St Patrick's names new president]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Irish Catholic, 12 May 2012.</ref> Travers had been the first lay president of the college when appointed in 1999. Previous presidents of the college have included Peter Byrne (1883-1919)<ref>[http://www.vincentians.ie/assets/files/Colloque%20Volume%2059.pdf Biographical Notes - Peter Byrne]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Colloque Vol 20, Vincentians Ireland.</ref> when the Vincentian order came to the college (earlier the head of the college would have been termed the Superior), Jerome Twomey (1942-1948), Donal Cregan (1957-1976) and [[Sam Clyne|Simon (Sam) Clyne]] (1985-1999).{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}  Keogh later became the fourth president of Dublin City University.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-14 |title=New DCU President Daire Keogh takes office today {{!}} News at DCU |url=https://www.dcu.ie/news/news/2020/07/new-dcu-president-daire-keogh-takes-office-today |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=Dublin City University |language=en}}</ref>

==Belvedere House==
[[File:Belvedere House, DCU.jpg|thumb|Belvedere House, St Patrick's campus, DCU]]
Notable buildings on the campus include Belvedere House which was built c. 1660 by [[Robert Booth (judge)|Robert Booth]], [[Lord Chief Justice of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Architectural Heritage {{!}} dcuartsandculture |url=https://www.dcu.ie/dcuartsandculture/architectural-heritage |website=Dublin City University |access-date=29 July 2021 |language=en |date=15 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DRUMCONDRA ROAD UPPER, BELVIDERE HOUSE Dictionary of Irish Architects - |url=https://www.dia.ie/works/view/49022/CO.+DUBLIN%2C+DUBLIN%2C+DRUMCONDRA+ROAD+UPPER%2C+BELVIDERE+HOUSE |website=www.dia.ie |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, DRUMCONDRA ROAD UPPER, ST PATRICK'S TRAINING COLLEGE (BELVIDERE HOUSE) Dictionary of Irish Architects - |url=https://www.dia.ie/works/view/34790/building/CO.+DUBLIN%2C+DUBLIN%2C+DRUMCONDRA+ROAD+UPPER%2C+ST+PATRICK%27S+TRAINING+COLLEGE+%28BELVIDERE+HOUSE%29 |website=www.dia.ie |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

Residents of the house included:
*[[Marmaduke Coghill]], [[Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland]]
*[[Henry Singleton (judge)|Henry Singleton]], [[Irish House of Commons|MP]] for [[Drogheda (Parliament of Ireland constituency)|Drogheda]] and later [[Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas]]
*[[John Bowes, 1st Baron Bowes]], [[Lord Chancellor of Ireland]]
*[[James Hewitt, 1st Viscount Lifford]], [[Lord Chancellor of Ireland]], and former MP for [[Coventry (UK Parliament constituency)|Coventry]]
*[[Richard Robinson, 1st Baron Rokeby]], [[Church of Ireland]] [[Archbishop of Armagh]]. Lord Rokeby founded, in 1790, [[Armagh Observatory]].

The [[Congregation of Christian Brothers]] established a novitiate in the house prior to transferring to [[Coláiste Mhuire]], Marino, in 1875, when they sold Belvedere House to [[Paul Cardinal Cullen|Cardinal Cullen]] for £3,000 for the establishment of the college.

==Faculty and departments==
The college was divided into two faculties, Education and Humanities. From the time of its affiliation to DCU, the college's offering of humanities programmes increased.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Faculty of Education===
* Education
* Religious studies and education
* Special education
* Bioscience
* Human development

===Faculty of Humanities===
* English
* Irish (Roinn na Gaeilge)
* Mathematics
* French
* History
* Geography
* Music

== Student services and students' union ==
St Pat's provided a variety of student services such as career advice, access support, mature student support, medical and welfare services and an international office.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

The college also had a students' union which oversaw clubs such as GAA, rugby, soccer, and other pursuits, and societies for drama, St Vincent De Paul, and a choral society.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

St Pat's Students' Union had two sabbatical positions and seven non-sabbatical positions. In 2015, students voted to change the structure of the union.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.patssu.com/ |title=St. Pat's Student's Union |access-date=2 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530204614/http://www.patssu.com/ |archive-date=30 May 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Erins Hope===
St Pat's were invited to enter the [[Dublin Senior Football Championship]] under the name Erins Hope. Erins Hope were Dublin football champions on four occasions in 1887, 1932, 1956 and 1978. In 2007 Erins Hope failed to field a team for the Dublin championship and had to withdraw from the tournament.

== Alumni ==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2020}}
{{See also|Category:Alumni of St Patrick's College, Dublin}}
Notable alumni of the college include:
* [[Patrick Breen (GAA President)|Patrick Breen]] - teacher and president of the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] (1924-1926)
* [[Patrick Deeley]] - poet and memoirist
* [[James "Cha" Fitzpatrick]] - Kilkenny All Ireland-winning hurler
* [[Paddy Hogan]] - Kilkenny senior hurler
* [[Richie Hogan]] - 2014 Hurler of the Year
* [[Brendan Howlin]] - TD, Minister for Health, Environment and Public Expenditure & Reform, leader of the Irish Labour Party
* [[Enda Kenny]] - 13th [[Taoiseach]] (Irish prime minister)
* [[Ciarán Kilkenny]] - Dublin All Ireland-winning footballer
* [[Bryan MacMahon (writer)|Bryan MacMahon]] - writer (1909-1998)
* [[Patrick McCabe (novelist)|Patrick McCabe]] - novelist
* [[Mattie McDonagh]] - Galway footballer (1936–2005)
* [[John McGahern]] - writer (1934–2006)
* [[Páid McGee]] - psychologist and educator
* [[Michael Noonan (Fine Gael politician)|Michael Noonan]] - Minister for Finance
* [[Máirtín Ó Cadhain]] - writer and Republican (1906–1970)
* [[Peadar O'Donnell]] - writer and Republican (1893–1986)
* [[Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh]] - broadcaster
* [[Brian O'Shea (politician)|Brian O'Shea]] - former minister for health, agriculture, food and forestry
* [[John D Ruddy]] - YouTuber
* [[Don Wycherley]] - actor

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040412185449/http://www.spd.dcu.ie/ Official site] (archived)

{{Dublin_City_University}}

{{Dublin clubs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Patrick's College Of Education, Drumcondra}}
[[Category:Dublin City University]]
[[Category:Former universities and colleges in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Former teacher training colleges in Ireland]]
[[Category:Catholic universities and colleges in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1875]]
[[Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2016]]
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Drumcondra, Dublin]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in Ireland]]