St Mary's University College is a

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History

The origins of the College can be traced back to 1900 when the Dominican Sisters opened St Mary’s Training College on the present Falls Road campus with an enrollment of 100 women students. For nearly 50 years after that, the college was concerned with the education of women students and their preparation for teaching in primary schools. In 1948, four-year courses for post-primary teachers were introduced and, by arrangement with Queen’s University, Belfast, selected students could follow a combined course of university study and professional training. In 1949 a men's department was established at Trench House. In 1961 it ceased to be the men's department of St Mary’s Training College and was constituted St Joseph’s Training College. In 1968 the Senate of Queen’s University granted St Mary’s and St Joseph’s recognition for the instruction of matriculated students of the university in courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Education. In the 1970s, however, there was a decline in teacher education when the government decided, in response to falling school enrolments, to reduce the supply of teachers, and the Catholic bishops decided to amalgamate St Mary’s and St Joseph’s. The new college, called St Mary’s University College, came formally into existence in September 1985. From 1994 to 1996, a major programme of building and refurbishment was undertaken on the Falls Road campus. In June 1996 Trench House closed its doors for the last time, and the entire College was relocated on the newly extended and enhanced Falls Road campus.

Academics

The institution is located on the Falls Road in

, and has approximately 60 academic staff and students (). The institution offers courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for teacher training, especially for a

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

ethos, including a PGCE for Irish Medium Education. The college diversified its offerings several years ago and now offers a BA degree in

liberal arts Liberal arts education () is a traditional academic course in Western higher education. ''Liberal arts'' takes the term ''skill, art'' in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the fine arts. ''Liberal arts education'' can refe ...

as well. The university college's legacy institutions have been associated with

Queen's University Belfast The Queen's University of Belfast, commonly known as Queen's University Belfast (; abbreviated Queen's or QUB), is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The university received its charter in 1845 as part of ...

, since 1949. Since 1968 Queen's degrees have been obtainable by St Mary's students. The Chairman of the Board of Governors is, ex-officio, the

Bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

of the Diocese of Down and Connor. This is currently the Most Reverend Alan McGuckian of the Diocese.

Facilities

The college has steadily expanded its facilities. In 2023 it opened developments at the Cardinal Newman Library, Tobar Mhuire, and the Beechmount Hall, Aonach na bhFeá.

People associated with St Joseph's College

A number of prominent people trained as teachers in St Joseph's. They include the poet

Seamus Heaney Seamus Justin Heaney (13 April 1939 – 30 August 2013) was an Irish Irish poetry, poet, playwright and translator. He received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature. Among his best-known works is ''Death of a Naturalist'' (1966), his first m ...

and dramatist

Brian Friel Brian Patrick Friel (c. 9 January 1929 – 2 October 2015) was an Irish dramatist, short story writer and founder of the Field Day Theatre Company. He had been considered one of the greatest living English-language dramatists. (subscription requ ...

, as well as the former SDLP MP and deputy first minister

Seamus Mallon Seamus Frederick Mallon ( ; 17 August 1936 – 24 January 2020) was an Irish politician who served as deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2001 and Deputy Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 1979 to ...

, and Tyrone Gaelic football manager

Mickey Harte Mickey Harte (born 1954) is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player. He has been joint-manager of Offaly since 2024. Harte managed the Tyrone county team from 2003 until his resignation in 2020, at which time he was the longest ...

. The television presenter Frank Mitchell was a student there and the broadcaster Gerry Kelly taught there. Teacher and trade unionist

Gerry Quigley Gerry Quigley (3 November 1928 – 23 December 2003) was a trade unionist and political activist in Northern Ireland. Quigley grew up in the Donegall Pass area of Belfast. He studied at St Mary's University College, Belfast, St Joseph's Training ...

studied at St Joseph's. Bishop Michael Dallat, who was lectured in St Mary's, served as principal of St Joseph's and was involved in the amalgamation of the two institutions.

References

External links