The Irish College was a seminary at

Douai Douai ( , , ; ; ; formerly spelled Douay or Doway in English) is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord département in northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department. Located on the river Scarpe (rive ...

, 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 St. Patrick's College, Douai.

History

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 Philip III (; 14 April 1578 – 31 March 1621) was King of Spain and King of Portugal, Portugal (where he is known as Philip II of Portugal) during the Iberian Union. His reign lasted from 1598 until his death in 1621. He held dominion over the S ...

, 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 The University of Douai (; ) was a historic university in Douai, France. With a medieval tradition of scholarly activity in the city, the university was established in 1559, and lectures began in 1562. It ceased operations from 1795 to 1808. In ...

, 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 LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

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 Great Britain, also known as the Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in Western Europe from 1707 to the end of 1800. The state was created by the 1706 Treaty of Union and ratified by the Acts of Union 1707, which united the Kingd ...

in 1793 to 1802, and provided back to Irish priests in 1802, this legacy was incorporated into the

Irish College in Paris The Irish College in Paris (, , ) was for three centuries a major Roman Catholic 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 t ...

(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 Pope Gregory XIII (, , born Ugo Boncompagni; 7 January 1502 – 10 April 1585) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 May 1572 to his death in April 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake ...

requested the

University of Douai The University of Douai (; ) was a historic university in Douai, France. With a medieval tradition of scholarly activity in the city, the university was established in 1559, and lectures began in 1562. It ceased operations from 1795 to 1808. In ...

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 The English College ( French: ''College des Grands Anglais'') was a Catholic seminary in Douai, France (also previously spelled Douay, and in English Doway), associated with the University of Douai. It was established in 1568, and was suppresse ...

. 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

Blessed Patrick O'Loughran attended the Irish College before returning to Ireland in 1611. Fr. Cusack served as head of the college, until his death in 1619, he was succeeded by his cousin, Laurence Sedgrave who had been vice-president, and served until 1633. Luke Bellew from Galway, studied at the college, and became its president. Bishop Edward Dillon served as Superior of the College prior to returning to Ireland and becoming a Bishop. Patrick O’Nachten who turned down the bishopric of Killala, also served as President of the college. Fr Luke McKiernan served as president/rector of the Irish College in Douai (1752-84).

Alumni

* Bishop Nicholas Joseph Archdeacon, Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora * Fr. Luke Bellew, served as President of the College * Valentine Browne, OFM * Bishop Edward Dillon,

Archbishop of Tuam The Archbishop of Tuam ( ; ) is an Episcopal polity, archbishop which takes its name after the town of Tuam in County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1839, and is still in use by the Cathol ...

, and earlier Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora * Dr. Patrick Fleming OFM, Professor of Theology, Leuven, and first rector of the Franciscan Irish College, Prague: he was Christopher Cusack's nephew. * Bishop

Heber MacMahon Heber MacMahon ( Irish ''Éimhear Mac Mathúna'') (1600 – 1650) was bishop of Clogher and general in Ulster. He was educated at the Irish college, Douay, and at Louvain, and ordained a Roman Catholic priest 1625. He became bishop of Clogh ...

Bishop of Clogher The Bishop of Clogher (, ) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Clogher in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Following the Reformation, there are now parallel apostolic successions: one of the Church of Ireland and ...

* Fr. Thomas Messingham, third rector of the

* Bishop Daniel O'Reilly, Bishop of Clogher, also served as President of the Irish College, Antwerp (1732-1747). * Bishop Edmund O'Reilly,

Archbishop of Armagh The Archbishop of Armagh is an Episcopal polity, archiepiscopal title which takes its name from the Episcopal see, see city of Armagh in Northern Ireland. Since the Reformation in Ireland, Reformation, there have been parallel apostolic success ...

, began his studies in DouaiTHE IRISH CATHOLIC EPISCOPAL CORPS, 1657 – 1829: A PROSOPOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS, VOLUME 2 OF 2
by Eric A. Derr (PhD Thesis), Maynooth University. * Bishop David Rothe, Bishop of Ossory, completed his studies in Salamanca * Bishop Patrick Plunkett O.Cist, Bishop of Ardagh and Bishop of Meath (tutored his cousin's son St. Oliver Plunkett)

References

{{coord, 50.38, N, 3.08, E, type:edu, display=title 1603 establishments in France 1793 disestablishments in France Counter-Reformation Defunct universities and colleges in France Educational institutions established in the 1600s Educational institutions disestablished in the 1790s Former Catholic seminaries

Irish diaspora in Europe Irish Colleges on the Continent University of Douai Philip III of Spain

History

Irish Students in Douai priort to establishment of the Irish College

People associated with the Irish College, Douai

Alumni

See also

References