Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort
Encyclopedia
Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort (commonly known as Carysfort College) was an important College of Education in Dublin, Ireland
from its foundation in 1877 until its closure in 1988. Educating primary school teachers, and located in a parkland campus in Blackrock, it was a recognised college of the National University of Ireland
from April 1975.
.
The college developed further when ‘Sedes Sapientiae’ (Seat of Wisdom) Training School for girls (a recognised Teacher Training college) of Catherine McAuley
Baggot Street moved to Carysfort in Blackrock.
The Diploma in Primary School Education awarded by the college was recognised by the Irish Government's Department of Education for teaching in primary schools.
The teacher training course which had been a 2 year course, was lengthened to three years in 1974.
In 1975 reforms in the education system in Ireland saw Carysfort become a recognised college of the National University of Ireland
along with other teacher training colleges such as Mary Immaculate in Limerick
and St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra
. These reforms saw Carysfort and other institutions award the B.Ed. Degree for their teacher training programmes, in 1977. The college also offered a postgraduate qualification in primary school teaching.
In 1982 a new library, a new 700-seat auditorium, a sports centre and an audio-visual centre were officially opened by the then Minister for Education.
In 1984 the government refused to allow Carysfort to provide a joint Masters in Education course with University College Dublin
.
In the mid 1980s the possibility of establishing a National College of Music and Dramatic Arts on the Carysfort campus was investigated, other proposals were to locate a Regional Technical College on the site. The final students graduated with their teaching degrees from Carysfort College in 1988, Sr. Regina served as the last President of the College.
Noted past academics at the college include Seamus Heaney
, Eoin MacNeill
, Pat Wall
, and Éamon de Valera
.
announced the decision to close the 111-year old College. She attributed the decision to falling pupil numbers, a young teaching force giving rise to few retirements, the need to contain public expenditure and make a better allocation of resources.
The state had invested several million pounds
in renovations that were completed in 1983. The Sisters of Mercy
, the owners, had the property valued at IR£20 million from the sale of the lands and buildings, and agreed to pay the State IR£1.7 million. The most developed 20 acres (81,000 m²) of the estate, including the main buildings, were eventually sold to University College, Dublin (UCD) in 1991 for IR£8 million, after much speculation - it was not an unusual thing for the state to get property at a much reduced price at the time. This also led to further controversy as it was claimed that the university college was forced to purchase a property that it neither needed nor wanted - especially as its Belfield campus nearby was more than adequate for future expansion.
Many of the academic staff of the college transferred, on closure, to: National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin (now Dublin City University
), St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (now National University of Ireland, Maynooth
), Trinity College, Dublin
and University College, Dublin.
on the site, and it continues to operate there.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
from its foundation in 1877 until its closure in 1988. Educating primary school teachers, and located in a parkland campus in Blackrock, it was a recognised college of the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
from April 1975.
Situation
The college grounds lie just inland from Blackrock village, within the broader suburb, and comprised around 90 acres (364,000 m²), with extensive lawns, mature trees, and the Carysfort-Maretimo Stream.History
Carysfort Training College was set up as a training college for Catholic girls who wished to become teachers. The college was founded and run by the Sisters of MercySisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
.
The college developed further when ‘Sedes Sapientiae’ (Seat of Wisdom) Training School for girls (a recognised Teacher Training college) of Catherine McAuley
Catherine McAuley
The Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831...
Baggot Street moved to Carysfort in Blackrock.
The Diploma in Primary School Education awarded by the college was recognised by the Irish Government's Department of Education for teaching in primary schools.
The teacher training course which had been a 2 year course, was lengthened to three years in 1974.
In 1975 reforms in the education system in Ireland saw Carysfort become a recognised college of the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
along with other teacher training colleges such as Mary Immaculate in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
and St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra
Drumcondra
Drumcondra is the name of several places:* Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland, a residential area on the Northside of Dublin.** Drumcondra railway station** Drumcondra F.C., former football club...
. These reforms saw Carysfort and other institutions award the B.Ed. Degree for their teacher training programmes, in 1977. The college also offered a postgraduate qualification in primary school teaching.
In 1982 a new library, a new 700-seat auditorium, a sports centre and an audio-visual centre were officially opened by the then Minister for Education.
In 1984 the government refused to allow Carysfort to provide a joint Masters in Education course with University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
.
In the mid 1980s the possibility of establishing a National College of Music and Dramatic Arts on the Carysfort campus was investigated, other proposals were to locate a Regional Technical College on the site. The final students graduated with their teaching degrees from Carysfort College in 1988, Sr. Regina served as the last President of the College.
Noted past academics at the college include Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
, Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill was an Irish scholar, nationalist, revolutionary and politician. MacNeill is regarded as the father of the modern study of early Irish medieval history. He was a co-founder of the Gaelic League, to preserve Irish language and culture, going on to establish the Irish Volunteers...
, Pat Wall
Pat Wall
Charles Patrick Wall was an English Trotskyist political figure and Labour Party Member of Parliament for Bradford North from 1987 to 1990...
, and Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
.
Closure
In 1986 the Minister for Education Gemma HusseyGemma Hussey
Gemma Hussey is a former Irish Fine Gael politician.Gemma Moran was born in Dublin in 1938 and educated at Loreto College, Foxrock and University College Dublin. Hussey had a successful career running a language school in the late 1960s and 70s...
announced the decision to close the 111-year old College. She attributed the decision to falling pupil numbers, a young teaching force giving rise to few retirements, the need to contain public expenditure and make a better allocation of resources.
The state had invested several million pounds
Irish pound
The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £...
in renovations that were completed in 1983. The Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
, the owners, had the property valued at IR£20 million from the sale of the lands and buildings, and agreed to pay the State IR£1.7 million. The most developed 20 acres (81,000 m²) of the estate, including the main buildings, were eventually sold to University College, Dublin (UCD) in 1991 for IR£8 million, after much speculation - it was not an unusual thing for the state to get property at a much reduced price at the time. This also led to further controversy as it was claimed that the university college was forced to purchase a property that it neither needed nor wanted - especially as its Belfield campus nearby was more than adequate for future expansion.
Many of the academic staff of the college transferred, on closure, to: National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin (now Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
), St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (now National University of Ireland, Maynooth
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth , was founded by the Universities Act, 1997 as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is Ireland's second oldest university, having been formed from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, itself founded in 1795.The university is...
), Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and University College, Dublin.
Today
UCD developed the Michael Smurfit School of BusinessMichael Smurfit Graduate School of Business
The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School is the business school of University College Dublin, located in Blackrock in Dublin, Republic of Ireland....
on the site, and it continues to operate there.