Bishop Keeffe initially attempted to open a seminary in
Tullow, but instead took out a 999-year lease on the present site. During the nineteenth century, students studied Philosophy, Theology, Mathematics, Languages and Law at Carlow College. It was founded in 1782. The delay in accepting students was due to resistance from the local
Church of Ireland Bishop, but the passing of the
Roman Catholic Relief Act 1793 obviated the need for his permission. From 1793 to 1892, it educated both lay people and those studying for the priesthood. In 1832, college president Father
Andrew Fitzgerald O.P. was imprisoned as part of the
Tithe War for his refusal to pay tithes. In 1840, Carlow College was accredited by the
University of London and over the succeeding decades students of the college sat the examinations for primary degrees in Arts (B.A.) and Law (LL.B.) from London. In May 1847, Carlow College president James Taylor purchased a house and farm of 127 acres at
Knockbeg and
St Mary's was opened there as a preparatory school to Carlow College. In 1892 lay students were transferred to Knockbeg. In 1866
Queen's University of Ireland engaged in a dialogue about empowering it to examine and confer degrees on students other than those of the Queen's colleges, the
St. Patricks College Carlow Report was conducted and the college was deemed to meet the criteria, as evidenced by the courses examined and conferred by
University of London (the report listed all the students and professors at the time), however it was never enacted. This dialogue with the president,
James Walshe, and the Queen's senate caused a dispute between Walshe and Cardinal Cullen. and affiliated to the new
Royal University of Ireland. Hence students could be matriculated and examined by the Royal University. The National Centre for Liturgy moved to Carlow in 1978 where it was based until it moved to
Maynooth in August 1996. From 1892 to 1989, the college was operating principally as a seminary for the priesthood. Between 1793 and 1993 it is estimated that 3132 priests were ordained in Carlow. In 1989 the college became affiliated to the NCEA, the forerunner of
HETAC. In 1993, a stone cross by the German artist Paul Schneider was placed in the grounds to celebrate its bicentenary. A lecture was also given by former college president Bishop Ryan. In 1995, full-time degree students became entitled to the Irish government's free fees scheme and local authority grants.
Notable alumni Distinguished among the thousands of its past students was one of the first-ever Catholic bishops to be appointed in the United States,
John England; The Rt Rev
Michael Collins, Bishop of Cloyne, who was expelled from Maynooth due to his support for
Robert Emmet's rebellion, completed his studies at Carlow. The Rev
Daniel William Cahill, an editor of the
Dublin Telegraph, attended Carlow College; he returned in 1825 as Professor of Natural Philosophy at Carlow College, a post he held until 1834. Amongst his pupils were the aforementioned Lalor brothers. Cahill's nephew, Patrick Cahill, was also educated at Carlow College, obtaining an LLB from the University of London. He was a supporter of Irish Nationalism and Home Rule and later went on to found the
Leinster Leader newspaper. The nationalist Maurice Leyne and the physician and poet
Richard D'Alton Williams (1822–1862) attended Carlow College. Poet and teacher William A. Byrne (William Dara) also attended Carlow.
Patrick Moriarty OSA was the second president of Villanova College and instrumental in its setting up, studied at Carlow before joining the Augustinians.
Patrick Barry, Bishop of
St. Augustine, Florida, and co-founder of
Barry University, began his studies for the priesthood at Carlow College in 1890. British general Sir
Thomas Kelly-Kenny (1840–1914) was also educated as a lay student at Carlow College. Rev
Thomas Nangle (1889–1972) from Canada, padre of the
Royal Newfoundland Regiment in the first world war, studied for the priesthood at Carlow, later a Rhodesian farmer and MP.
Michael O'Hanrahan, who was executed for his part in the 1916
Easter Rising, was educated in Carlow College Academy. Nationalist activist
Kevin O'Higgins studied for a while at Carlow College, after he was expelled from
Maynooth College in 1911 for smoking. A number of the rooms in the college are named after alumni and people associated with the college such as Cobden Hall named after the architect
Thomas Cobden who designed the college building, the John England Room and the Therry Room, among others.
Lawrence Duffy, current bishop of Clogher, studied in Carlow. Bishop elect of Achonry
Paul Dempsey also studied in Carlow.
Notable professors Among the first professors were French refugees following the revolution, Abbés Noget, Chabout and Labruné. •
Patrick J. (P.J.) Brophy (1919 – 1998) professor (1944-1974), president (1970–74) •
Thomas Croke, Archbishop of Cashel, GAA Patron, taught for a time at Carlow •
James Warren Doyle, O.E.S.A., Roman Catholic bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, campaigner for Catholic Emancipation, and the builder of Carlow Cathedral, held a professorship at Carlow College from 1814 to 1819. He was a professor of theology and was chair of rhetoric.
Sports In 1865, Carlow College Cricket Club established and games played against other Carlow and Dublin teams. In 1882 Ecclesiastic students at Carlow College played rugby and Carlow College Rugby Club formed in 1898 they played in the Leinster Senior Cup, in 1912 rugby was reintroduced, as the Irish Nationalism increased Gaelic games became more prominent. In 1976 St. Patrick's College, Carlow defeated St Patrick's College, Thurles, to win the Higher Education Hurling League.
Presidents of the college •
Henry Staunton (1792–1814) •
Andrew Fitzgerald O.P. (1814–1843) •
James Ignatius Taylor (1843–1850) •
James Walshe (1850–1856) became bishop in Kildare and Leighlin. •
John Dunne (1856–1864) appointed Parish Priest of Kildare. •
James B. Kavanagh (1864–1880) •
Edward Burke (1880–1892) •
Patrick Foley (1892–1896) became bishop in Kildare and Leighlin •
John Foley (1896–1937), brother of Bishop Foley, was a professor at Carlow from 1886. • Thomas Browne (1937–1941), parish priest in Portlaoise. • James J. Conway V.G. (1941–1948), vice-president (1937–1941) • Martin Brenan (1948–1956) •
Patrick Lennon, (1956–1966) he became Bishop in Kildare and Leighlin. • Robert Prendergast (1966–1970) •
P. J. Brophy (1970–1974) •
Laurence Ryan (1974–1980), he later became Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin • Matthew Kelly (1980–1986) • John McDonald (1986–1994) • Caoimhín(Kevin) Ó Néill (1994–2015) p* Conn Ó Maoldhomhnaigh (2015–present), previously vice-president ==Present==