It was founded in 1603 by Fr. Christopher Cusack (a member of a prominent landowning family from
County Meath), with the support of
Philip III of Spain, as a Spanish foundation and endowed with 5,000 florins a year by the King of Spain. Prior to the establishment of the Irish College, Douai, from 1593, 25 places were allocated to Irish students in the
Scots College, Douai, then in Pont a Mousson. Fr. Cusack had some years earlier since 1595, tried to set up a hostel to support Irish candidates for the priesthood in Douai. The course of studies lasted six years and the students attended lectures at the
university of Douai, where its Faculty of Theology took the Irish Seminary of Douai under its wing in 1610. At the time of its foundation and during the colleges early years Douai was part of the Spanish Netherlands. The
Irish College, Antwerp was set up as a satellite college of the Irish College, Douai. In 1667
Louis XIV of France, took control of Douai and the college became subject to French authority. The college benefited from the expertise of English scholars in Douai, priests were trained to preach in the Irish language. The college was rebuilt about the middle of the 18th century. The college closed in 1793 and in 1795 the buildings, valued at 60,000 francs, were alienated by the French Government during the war against the
Kingdom of Great Britain in 1793 to 1802, and provided back to Irish priests in 1802, this legacy was incorporated into the
Irish College in Paris (and the
Fondation Irlandaise).
Irish Students in Douai priort to establishment of the Irish College Prior to the establishment of the Irish College, there were Irish students who trained at Douai, in 1577
Pope Gregory XIII requested the
University of Douai supported Irish students, as did the Jesuits of Douai, also Irish students were accommodated at both the
Scots College, Douai, and the
English College, Douai. From 1583 when Scots College had moved to Pont-à-Mousson, it was mandated as part of its papal grant to accommodate Irish Students, following the move in to Douai, no such obligation was in place and Irish Students were excluded. Cardinal
William Allen's, English College, hosted Irish students both during its exile in Rheims and when it returned to Douai. ==People associated with the Irish College, Douai==