The Irish College in Paris (french: Collège des Irlandais, links=no, la, Collegium Clericorum Hibernoram) was for three centuries a major
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
educational establishment for Irish students. It was founded in the late 16th century, and closed down by the French government in the early 20th century. From 1945 to 1997, the Polish seminary in Paris was housed in the building. It is now an Irish cultural centre, the .
Foundation
The religious persecution under Elizabeth and James I lead to the suppression of the monastic schools in Ireland in which the clergy for the most part received their education. It became necessary, therefore, to seek education abroad, and many colleges for the training of the secular clergy were founded on the continent, at Rome, in Spain and Portugal, in Belgium, and in France.
[Boyle, Patrick. "Irish Colleges, on the Continent"]
The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 20 January 2019
The founder of the Irish College in Paris was the Reverend John Lee, an Irish priest who came to Paris, in 1578, with six companions, and entered the
Collège de Montaigu. Having completed his studies he became attached to the
Church of St. Severin, and made the acquaintance of a French nobleman, John de l'Escalopier, President of the
Parliament of Paris
The Parliament of Paris (french: Parlement de Paris) was the oldest ''parlement'' in the Kingdom of France, formed in the 14th century. It was fixed in Paris by Philip IV of France in 1302. The Parliament of Paris would hold sessions inside the ...
, who placed at the disposal of the Irish students in Paris a house in the rue de Sèvres, which served them as a college. Father Lee became the first rector about 1605.
[
]
Seventeenth century
Lee was followed by Thomas Dease
Thomas Dease was at one time Roman Catholic Bishop of Meath.
Born in Ireland, 1568; died at Galway, 1651. He sprang from an ancient Irish family at one time possessing considerable landed property in County Cavan and County Westmeath. In you ...
, who was rector until 1621, when he was appointed Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.
History
Unti ...
. By letters patent
Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, titl ...
dated 1623, Louis XIII
Louis XIII (; sometimes called the Just; 27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643) was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643 and King of Navarre (as Louis II) from 1610 to 1620, when the crown of Navarre was merged with the French crown ...
conferred upon the Irish priests and scholars in Paris the right to receive and possess property. It was during the tenure of Dease's successor, Thomas Messingham
Thomas Messingham was an Irish hagiologist, born in the Diocese of Meath. He studied at the Irish College, Douai[University of Paris
, image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of Arms
, latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis
, motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin)
, mottoeng = Here and a ...](_blank)
in 1624. Messingham organized the course of studies with a view of sending forth capable missionaries to work in their native country.
The college founded by Father Lee was not spacious enough to receive the numerous Irish students who came to Paris. Some of them continued to find a home in the Collège Montaigu, others in the Collège de Boncourt
The Collège de Boncourt, in the (now) 5th arrondissement of Paris, rue Bordet or Bordeille (modern rue Descartes), was established in 1353 by Pierre Becoud (which became "Boncourt" by alteration)
History
During the 16th century, comedies and ...
, while some, who were in affluent circumstances, resided in the Collège de Navarre
The College of Navarre (french: Collège de Navarre) was one of the colleges of the historic University of Paris, rivaling the Sorbonne and renowned for its library.
History
It was founded by Queen Joan I of Navarre in 1305, who provided for thr ...
. This situation attracted the attention of Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul, CM (24 April 1581 – 27 September 1660), commonly known as Saint Vincent de Paul, was a Occitan French Catholic priest who dedicated himself to serving the poor.
In 1622 Vincent was appointed a chaplain to the galleys. Afte ...
and others, who sought to provide them with a more suitable residence.[
In 1672, the bishops of Ireland, deputed Dr. John O'Mollony, Roman Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, to treat with Colbert as to the establishment of a new college. This was eventually obtained, through the influence of two Irish priests resident in Paris: Dr. Patrick Maginn, formerly first chaplain to Queen Catherine, wife of ]Charles II of England
Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685.
Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...
, and Dr. Malachy Kelly, one of the chaplains of Louis XIV
, house = Bourbon
, father = Louis XIII
, mother = Anne of Austria
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
, death_date =
, death_place = Palace of Vers ...
. These two ecclesiastics obtained from Louis XIV authorisation to enter on possession of the Collège des Lombards, a college of the University of Paris founded for Italian students in 1333. They rebuilt the college, then in ruins, at their own expense, and became its first superiors. The acquisition of the college was confirmed by letters patent dated 1677 and 1681. Some years later the buildings were extended by Dr. John Farely, and all the Irish ecclesiastical students in Paris found a home in the Collège des Lombards.
Eighteenth century
The Irish College in Paris was open to all the counties and provinces in Ireland. In 1738, the college chapel was rebuilt under the direction of the architect Pierre Boscry. The number of students went on increasing until, in 1764, it reached 160. It was therefore found necessary to build a second college. The building was commenced in 1769 in rue du Cheval Vert, now rue des Irlandais, and the junior section of the students was transferred to the new college in 1776. The students were divided into two categories, one, the more numerous, consisting of priests already ordained in Ireland, the other of juniors aspiring to orders.[ Both sections attended the university classes, either at the Collège de Plessis, or at that of Navarre, or at the ]Sorbonne
Sorbonne may refer to:
* Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities.
*the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970)
*one of its components or linked institution, ...
. The course of study extended over six years, of which two were given to philosophy, three to theology, and one to special preparation for pastoral work. The more talented students remained two years longer to qualify for degrees in theology, or in canon law
Canon law (from grc, κανών, , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is th ...
.
In virtue of the papal bull of Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII ( la, Urbanus VIII; it, Urbano VIII; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death in July 1644. As po ...
, , dated 10 July 1626, and granted in favour of all Irish colleges already established or to be established in France, Spain, Flanders, or elsewhere, the junior students were promoted to orders , even , and without dimissorial letters, on the representation of the rector of the college – a privilege withdrawn, as regards dimissorial letters, by Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI ( la, Gregorius XVI; it, Gregorio XVI; born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari; 18 September 1765 – 1 June 1846) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1831 to his death in 1 June 1846. He h ...
. The students in priestly orders were able to support themselves to a large extent by their Mass stipends
In the Catholic Church, a Mass stipend is a donation given by the laity to a priest for praying a Mass. Despite the name, it is considered as a gift or offering () freely given rather than a payment () as such.
This is usually a small amount of ...
. Many burses, too, were founded for the education of students at the Lombard college. Among the founders were nine Irish bishops, thirty-two Irish priests, four medical doctors, some laymen engaged in civil or military pursuits, and a few pious ladies. The college was governed in the eighteenth century by four Irish priests called provisors, one from each province of Ireland. They were elected by the votes of the students and confirmed by the Archbishop of Paris
The Archdiocese of Paris (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Parisiensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Paris'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. It is one of twenty-three archdioceses in France ...
, who, as superior major, nominated one of them to the office of the principal. In 1788, the system of government by provisors was abolished, and one rector was appointed.
In 1792 following the French Revolution, the two Irish colleges in Paris, namely the Collège des Lombards, and the then junior college, the Collège des Irlandais on the rue du Cheval Vert, were closed,[Le Grand Project – Confiscated and vandalised during the French Revolution and shelled by the Prussian army, the Irish College in Paris has had. .](_blank)
by Frank McDonald, ''The Irish Times'', 12 October 2012. as were all the other Irish colleges in France. The original library collection of the Irish College was entirely lost during the Revolution.[ The closing of the colleges on the Continent deprived the bishops of Ireland of the means of educating their clergy. They, therefore, petitioned the British Government for authorisation to establish an ecclesiastical college at home. The petition was granted, and Maynooth College was founded in 1795. In support of their petition, the bishops submitted a statement of the number of Irish ecclesiastics receiving education on the Continent when the ]French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...
began.
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, forty students of the Irish college in Paris were raised to the episcopal bench. Over the period 1660 to 1730, more than sixty Irishmen held the office of procurator of the German nation —one of the four sections of the faculty of arts in the ancient university. Dr. Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore (born April 23, 1954) is an American filmmaker, author and left-wing activist. His works frequently address the topics of globalization and capitalism.
Moore won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for ' ...
, an Irish priest, held the office of the principal of the Collège de Navarre, and was twice elected rector of the university. Many Irishmen held chairs in the university. Dr. Sleyne was professor at the Sorbonne. Dr. Power was a professor of the college at Lisieux; Dr. O'Lonergan at the college of Reims. Dr. John Plunkett, Dr. Patrick J. Plunkett, and Dr. Flood, superiors or provisors of the Irish college, were in succession royal professors of theology at the Collège de Navarre.
From its closure following the revolution, the Irish College was leased by Abbé Patrick MacDermott who ran a lay school there up until 1800; both Napoleon's youngest brother Jérôme and his step-son studied there.
Nineteenth century
After the French revolution, the Irish college in Paris was re-established by a decree of the first consul
The Consulate (french: Le Consulat) was the top-level Government of France from the fall of the Directory in the coup of 18 Brumaire on 10 November 1799 until the start of the Napoleonic Empire on 18 May 1804. By extension, the term ''The Con ...
, and placed under the control of a board appointed by the French Government, creating the ''Fondation Irlandaise'' in 1805. To it was united the remnants of the property of the other Irish colleges in France which had escaped destruction. The college in Paris lost two-thirds of its endowments owing to the depreciation of French state funds, which had been reduced to one-third consolidated. The Scots College (Paris)
The Scots College ( la, Collegium Scoticum; french: Collège des Écossais) was a college of the University of Paris, France, founded by an Act of the Parliament of Paris on 8 July 1333. The act was a ratification of an event that had already ta ...
and English college interests were also consolidated into the Irish College, their foundations were separated in 1824 again by Louis XVIII
Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier; 17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824), known as the Desired (), was King of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief interruption during the Hundred Days in 1815. He spent twenty-three years in ...
.
In 1810 Rev Richard Ferris who was appointed by the French to administer/superior of the United British (of which the Irish Colleges were part) Colleges.
In 1814 the Irish Bishops, and, following the establishment of Maynooth College, supported by the British government, twenty years earlier, sent Rev Dr. Paul Long to the college to exercise its control over the institution, and he was appointe superior. This caused friction with Rev Richard Ferris, who still held sway with many in Paris, and during Napoleon's 100days in power in 1815, Ferris briefly resumed the post as Rector/Superior.
After the Bourbon Restoration, the French Government placed at the disposal of the British government three million and a half sterling, to indemnify British subjects in France for the losses they had sustained in the Revolution. In 1816, a claim for indemnity was presented on behalf of the Irish college. That claim was rejected by the privy council in 1825 on the grounds that the college was a French establishment. In 1832 the claim was renewed by Dr. M'Sweeny, director of the college, with the same result. Another attempt to obtain compensation was made by the Rector Rev. Thomas McNamara CM in 1870. On 9 May in that year a motion was made in the House of Lords for copies of the awards in the case of the Irish college in 1825 and 1832. This step was followed up by a motion in the House of Commons for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the claims of the college to compensation for losses sustained during the French Revolution. The motion was introduced on 30 April 1875, by Isaac Butt
Isaac Butt (6 September 1813 – 5 May 1879) was an Irish barrister, editor, politician, Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, economist and the founder and first leader of a number of Irish nationalist parti ...
, MP for Limerick, and, after a prolonged discussion, it was defeated by 116 to 54 votes.
After 1805, the administration of the college was subject to a "Bureau de Surveillance" which gave much trouble until it was dissolved by Charles X of France
Charles X (born Charles Philippe, Count of Artois; 9 October 1757 – 6 November 1836) was King of France from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. An uncle of the uncrowned Louis XVII and younger brother to reigning kings Louis XVI and Lou ...
, in 1824. After that date, the superior, appointed on presentation of the four archbishops of Ireland, became the official administrator of the foundations, subject to the minister of the interior, and at a later period to the minister of public instruction. The students no longer frequented the university. The professors were Irish priests appointed by the French Government on the presentation of the Irish episcopate. In 1858, with the sanction of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda
Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...
, and with the consent of the French Government, the bishops of Ireland placed the management of the college in the hands of the Irish Vincentian Fathers
, logo =
, image = Vincentians.png
, abbreviation = CM
, nickname = Vincentians, Paules, Lazarites, Lazarists, Lazarians
, established =
, founder = Vincent de Paul
, fou ...
with Fr. McNamara being succeeded in 1889 by Fr Patrick Boyle CM.
In 1834 Rev McSweeney, purchased a country house at Acuril/Arcueil about an hours walk from the college, which was used by the students at weekends and public holidays. The property was sold following the second world war and redeveloped all that remains of the college is in names of palaces, ''villa des Irlandais'' and a ''cité des Irlandais'' as well as some graves of Irish priests and students in Cachan Cemetery.
In the nineteenth century the college gave to the Catholic Church a wide array of good priests and bishops, including Dr. Fitz Patrick, Abbot of Melleray; Dr. Maginn, Coadjutor Bishop of Derry; Dr. Keane, of Cloyne; Dr. Michael O'Hea and Dr. Fitz Gerald of Ross; Dr. Gillooly of Elphin, and Dr. Croke of Cashel. Dr. Kelly, the Bishop of Ross, and Dr. McSherry, vicar Apostolic at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, were also alumni of the college. Cardinal Logue held the chair of dogmatic theology from 1866 to 1874.
From 1873, the administration of the property of the college was with a board created by a decree of the . On that board the Archbishop of Paris
The Archdiocese of Paris (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Parisiensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Paris'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. It is one of twenty-three archdioceses in France ...
was represented by a delegate, and he was also the official medium of communication between the Irish episcopate and the French Government.
During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, burses were available to students from Maynooth College and Clonliffe College
Holy Cross College (also known as Clonliffe College), located in Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra was founded in 1854 as the Catholic diocesan seminary for Dublin by Cardinal Paul Cullen.
History
The College was founded in 1859 by the then Archbish ...
, Dublin, to spend time in the Irish College, Paris studying at the Institut Catholique de Paris
The Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP), known in English as the Catholic University of Paris (and in Latin as ''Universitas catholica Parisiensis''), is a private university located in Paris, France.
History: 1875–present
The Institut Catholiq ...
. This connection continues with recent chaplains to the college, pursuing studies in the Institut.
Twentieth Century
In December 1906, the law of separation of Church and State in France came into operation. In the following January, the French government notified the British government of its intention to reorganise the Irish Catholic foundations in France so as to bring them into harmony with the recent legislation regarding the Church. It was further stated that the purpose of the Government was to close the Irish college, to sell its immovable property, and to invest the proceeds of the sale, to be applied together with the existing burses for the benefit of Irish students. However, due to the exertions of its superior, Patrick Boyle, and the British ambassador in Paris the college remained open until the outbreak of World War I caused its closure. During the war Boyle opened the college for use by the sisters and orphans from Verdun Orphanage. The college resumed in 1919, but closed again on the outbreak of World War II, with students evacuated, leaving Fr. Travers resident for the duration of the war. After the war, it was not reopened as an Irish College, instead, in 1947 the college was made available for use by a Polish religious community. Throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Fr. Liam Swords, and Mgr. Dr. Devlin worked to regain the Irish control and presence in the college. In 1989 an Irish presence was re-established, and a number of renovations were made, and scholarships funded Irish students studying in Paris to stay in the college,[The Irish College Conquest Part 2](_blank)
''The Irish Times'', 6 May 2000. as Cardinal O'Fiach said in 1989, (he hoped the Irish college) ''will one day house an Irish Cultural Centre, with library, language training, student exchanges – in short, a meeting place where Ireland will meet France and through France the wider Europe''.
In 1991 the ''Fondation Irlandaise'' which officially controlled the college, was reconstituted, from six French and one Irish member, to seven members from each country, nominees to the foundation were from the Archbishop of Paris
The Archdiocese of Paris (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Parisiensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Paris'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. It is one of twenty-three archdioceses in France ...
, Maynooth
Maynooth (; ga, Maigh Nuad) is a university town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to Maynooth University (part of the National University of Ireland and also known as the National University of Ireland, Maynooth) and St Patrick's ...
and The Irish Ambassador to France. The Polish community re-located to ''Notre-Dame de Sion'' in Issy-les-Moulineaux, in 1997.
400th Celebrations
In 1978, the Irish College celebrated its fourth centenary, events were held such as a reception hosted by the Irish Ambassador, mass at St. Etienne du Mont (at which Frank Patterson sang), seminar and social events in the college, many dignitaries such as Cardinal O'Fiach, Sean McBride, the Irish in France and those connected with the college in attendance, as well as academics from Irish universities and international institutions who attended the seminar.
Alumni and rectors
In the three hundred years of its existence, the college has not been without a share in the ecclesiastical literature of Ireland. Among the rectors of the college have been Thomas Messingham
Thomas Messingham was an Irish hagiologist, born in the Diocese of Meath. He studied at the Irish College, Douai[Andrew Donlevy
Andrew Donlevy (born in 1694, probably in Sligo, Ireland; date and place of death uncertain) was an Irish Catholic priest and educator.
Life
Little is known about his early life. He went abroad to study for the priesthood, reaching Paris in 1 ...](_blank)
, author of an "Anglo-Irish Catechism" (Paris, 1742); Dr. Miley, author of "A History of the Papal States" (Dublin, 1852); Dr. Thomas McNamara, author of "Programmes of Sermons" (Dublin, 1880), "Encheiridion Clericorum" (1882), and several other similar works. Abbé James MacGeoghegan
James MacGeoghegan (1702 at Uisneach, Westmeath, Ireland – 1763 at Paris) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest and historian, known in French as the Abbé Mac-Geoghegan.
Life
He came of the Geoghegan family long settled in Westmeath and long ...
, Sylvester O'Hallaran, Martin Haverty, and probably Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating ( ga, Seathrún Céitinn; c. 1569 – c. 1644) was a 17th-century historian. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and is buried in Tubrid Graveyard in the parish of Ballylooby-Duhill. He became an Irish Catholic priest and a ...
, all eminent Irish historians, were students of the college. Dean Kinane, a student and then a professor in the college, is widely known for his "Dove of the Tabernacle" and numerous other devotional works. More recently, the Rev. John MacGuinness, C. M., vice-rector, has published a full course of dogmatic theology. Amongst the rectors of the college were Dr. John Farley and Dr. John Baptist Walsh, in the eighteenth century, and Dr. Patrick MacSweeney and the Rev. Thomas MacNamara
Thomas James Macnamara PC (23 August 1861 – 3 December 1931) was a British teacher, educationalist and radical Liberal politician.
Biography
Macnamara was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the son of a soldier originally from County Clar ...
, in the nineteenth. Canon Charles Ouin La Croix, from Rouen administered the college from 1859 until 1873. Fr Charles O'Neill was College president in the 18th century.
Alumni
* Eugène de Beauharnais
Eugène Rose de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg (; 3 September 1781 – 21 February 1824) was a French nobleman, statesman, and military commander who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
Through the second marr ...
– Duke of Leuchtenberg and stepson of Napoleon Bonaparte, attended the lay college established following the revolution
* Jérôme Bonaparte
Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte (born Girolamo Buonaparte; 15 November 1784 – 24 June 1860) was the youngest brother of Napoleon I and reigned as Jerome Napoleon I (formally Hieronymus Napoleon in German), King of Westphalia, between 1807 and 1 ...
– youngest brother of Napoleon attended the lay college
* Henry Conwell
Henry Conwell ( – April 22, 1842) was an Irish-born Catholic bishop in the United States. He became a priest in 1776 and served in that capacity in Ireland for more than four decades. After the Pope declined to appoint him Archbishop of Arm ...
– Bishop of Philadelphia
* William Coppinger – Bishop of Cloyne and Ross
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
* Thomas Croke
Thomas William Croke D.D. (28 May 1824 – 22 July 1902) was the second Catholic Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand (1870–74) and later Archbishop of Cashel and Emly in Ireland. He was important in the Irish nationalist movement especially as a C ...
DD – Archbishop of Cashel
* Daniel Delany DD – Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin is the ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, one of the suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese of Dublin. The episcopal title takes its name from the towns of Kildare and Old Leighlin ...
* James Dillon DD – Bishop of Kilmore
* Peter Flood
Peter Flood was an Irish priest and educator. A native of Legan, Co. Longford, Flood received his seminary education in Paris, gaining an MA(1774) and LTh(1780). Dr Flood became Professor of Theology, first, at the College de Navarre and late ...
DD – second President of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.
* James Gallagher MA – Bishop of Raphoe
The Bishop of Raphoe ( ) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bis ...
(1725–37),Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin is the ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, one of the suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese of Dublin. The episcopal title takes its name from the towns of Kildare and Old Leighlin ...
(1737–51)
* Laurence Gillooly CM – Bishop of Elphin
The Bishop of Elphin (; ) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other b ...
* Neal McCabe CM – Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
, served as Rector 1866–68, buried in the vincentian community plot in Montparnasse, Paris.
* John McCarthy DD, Bishop Sandhurst, Australia, 1917-1950
* Patrick Joseph Plunkett – Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.
History
Unti ...
, served as superior and professor in paris
* Charles Tuohy DD – Bishop of Limerick
The Bishop of Limerick is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Limerick in the Province of Munster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it still continues as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been un ...
1813-28
Rectors & Superiors
* Rev. John Lee (1605- )
* Rev. Thomas Dease
Thomas Dease was at one time Roman Catholic Bishop of Meath.
Born in Ireland, 1568; died at Galway, 1651. He sprang from an ancient Irish family at one time possessing considerable landed property in County Cavan and County Westmeath. In you ...
( -1621), appointed Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.
History
Unti ...
* Rev. Thomas Messingham
Thomas Messingham was an Irish hagiologist, born in the Diocese of Meath. He studied at the Irish College, Douai[Patrick Joseph Plunkett (1770-1778) joint Superior of the Irish College(College of the Lombards), and royal professor of theology, Collège de Navarre.
* Rev. Dr. Charles Kearney (1782-1787), superior/rector, remained in paris](_blank)[Charles Kearney](_blank)
Contributed by O'Brien, Andrew; Lunney, Linde, Dictionary of Irish Biography.
* Rev. Dr. John Baptist Walsh MA, LTh, DTh (1787-1814), superior, responsible for the Fondation Irlandais/Irish College inheriting and acquiring the legacy and equity of the Irish and British Colleges in France.
* Rev. Richard Ferris
Richard Ferris (died 1649, aged 67) was a wealthy merchant from Barnstaple in Devon, England who served as a Member of Parliament for Barnstaple in 1640 and served twice as Mayor of Barnstaple in 1632 and 1646.Lamplugh, p. 156. He founded th ...
(1810-1814, 1815), "colourful" and controversial superior and administrator of the British(which included the Irish) Colleges. to assert Irish control of the college and its interests.
* Rev. Dr. Charles Kearney (1820-1824), reappointed rector, he died in 1824 and interred in the college vaults.
* Rev. Dr. Paul McSweeney (1828-1849)
* Rev. John Miley (1849-1858)
* Rev. James Lynch CM (1858-1866), first Vincentian rector
* Rev. Neal McCabe CM (1866-1868)
* Rev. Thomas McNamara CM (1868-1889)
* Rev. Patrick Boyle CM (1889-1926), re-established the college following its closure during World War I, her remained and taught in the college until his death in 1933.
* Rev. John Magennis (McGuinness) CM (1926-1932)
* Rev. Joseph P. Sheedy CM (1932-1938)
* Rev. Patrick Travers CM DD (1938–39) he stayed at the college during the Second World War. Reappointed and served from (1949-1972)
* Rev. Henry Casey (1945-1949)
* Rev. Patrick Travers CM DD, Reappointed (1949-1972), non-resident, with Rev. William McGlynn resident priest, liaising with French Government.
* Rev. Thomas Fagan CM (1972-1984), non-resident in the college, in 1984 the vincentians relinquished their position as rectors of the college.
* Rev. Dr. Brendan Devlin MA DD (1984-2001), rector and manager
Following the reappointment of Dr. Travers, the rector was not resident in the college, and only visited periodically to look after the Irish interest in the college which was being used seminary training polish priests, ''Seminaire Polonais de Paris''(1947–97). An Irish Catholic presence was re-established in the 1970s when the historian and archivist (sometimes referred to as rector), Fr. Liam Swords became Chaplain, to Irish Community in Paris, and was responsible for the development of the college into a cultural institution.
Chaplains (or Aumônier, Collège des Irlandais)
* Rev. Liam Swords (1978-1994), first priest in residence since 1945
* Rev. Desmond Knowles (1994-1998)
* Rev. Pearce Walsh (1998-2002)
* Rev. Desmond Knowles (2002-2003)
* Rev. Declan Hurley (2003-2008)
* Rev. David Bracken (2008-2011)
* Rev. Sean Maher (2011-2014)
* Rev. Dwayne Gavin (2014-2017)
* Rev. Hugh Connolly (2017–2022), Mons. Connolly served as board member and secretary of the Fondation Irlandais, when in Maynooth.[Changes in administering Irish College in Paris are announced](_blank)
by Lara Marlowe, ''The Irish Times'', 21 March 2001.
* Rev. Jim Doyle (2022-)
Today
The Polish community having re-located in 1997, the college, including the chapel and library underwent a complete restoration funded by the Irish government,[The Irish College Conquest Part 1](_blank)
''The Irish Times'', 6 May 2000. and in 2002 it opened as the Centre Culturel Irlandais. The center appoints an artist in residence, and a number of scholars and students from Ireland stay at the college, which has 45 rooms to rent. The CCI hosts various concerts, performances, seminars, and exhibitions, Irish Language classes are conducted in association with Maynooth University
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM; ga, Ollscoil na hÉireann Mhá Nuad), commonly known as Maynooth University (MU), is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. It w ...
. The Irish Chaplaincy in Paris is based in the centre, and uses the college's ''Chapelle Saint-Patrick'' for services, such as weekly mass (followed by coffee and a chat), weddings, baptisms and the annual carol service in the chapel by the choir for the Irish community in paris. The harmonium was restored funded by the Ireland Funds France. The Irish Chaplain assists in the local Saint Etienne du Mont parish and the chaplaincy also works closely with the other church in Paris which holds English language services, St. Josephs Church run by the Passionists (currently served by two Irish born priests). The only part of the older ''College des Lombards'' remaining, is the chapel, which since 1927 used by the Saint-Éphrem-le-Syriac Church, the Irish Chaplain holds an annual service there for those Irish who are buried older college site. Also at the recently restored Irish College plot in Cachan Cemetery, Arcueil-Cachan, Paris.November: Remembering our dead – The Irish College grave at Arcueil Cachan
Irish Chaplaincy Paris, Irish College, Paris.
See also
* Irish College in Bordeaux (1603-1794) – merged into Fondation Irlandais
* Irish College, Douai
The Irish College was a seminary at Douai, France, for Irish Roman Catholics in exile on the continent of Europe to study for the priesthood, modelled on the English College there. Dedicated to St. Patrick, the college was sometimes referred to as ...
(1603-1793)
* Irish College in Toulouse (1618-1793) – merged into Fondation Irlandais
* Irish College at Lisbon
Irish College at Lisbon or St. Patrick's College, Lisbon was set up during the Penal Times, by a group of Irish Jesuits, supported by a number of Portuguese Nobles, in Lisbon.
History
The religious persecution under Elizabeth and James I lead to ...
* Irish College in Rome
The Pontifical Irish College is a Roman Catholic seminary for the training and education of priests, in Rome. The College is located at #1, Via dei Santi Quattro, and serves as a residence for clerical students from all over the world. Designated ...
* Irish College at Salamanca
The Irish College at Salamanca, ( es, Collegia de Irlandeses), it was endowed by the King of Spain and dedicated as the St Patrick’s Royal College for Irish Noblemen ( es, El Real Colegio de San Patricio de Nobles Irlandeses). It was founded by ...
(1592-1952)
* Irish Dominican St Anthony's College, Leuven
The Irish College of St Anthony, in Leuven, Belgium, known in ga, Coláiste na nGael, french: Collège des Irlandais à Louvain and nl, Iers College Leuven, has been a centre of Irish learning on the European Continent since the early 17th cen ...
(1607-1983), Accommodation, and Cultural Centre
Sources
Irish in Europe archives
*
References
External links
Centre Culturel Irlandais website
Irish Chaplaincy Paris
– resident in the old college, and uses the Chapelle Saint-Patrick.
{{Authority control
Colleges of the University of Paris
Former Catholic seminaries
1605 establishments in France
Irish diaspora in Europe
Irish Colleges on the Continent