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 St. Patrick's College, Douai.
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, as a Spanish foundation and endowed with 5,000 florins a year by the King of Spain.[1] Fr. Cusack had some years earlier 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, where its Faculty of Theology took the Irish Seminary of Douai under its wing in 1610. In 1667 Louis XIV of France, took control of Douai and the Irish college there 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.[2]
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 United Kingdom in 1793 to 1802,[3] and provided back to Irish priests in 1802.
People associated with the Irish College, Douai
Blessed Patrick O'Loughran attended the Irish College before returning to Ireland in 1611.[4] Fr. Cusack served as head of the college, until his death in 1619, he was succeeded by his cousin, Laurence Sedgrave[5] who had been vice-president, and served until 1633.[6] Luke Bellew from Galway, studied at the college, and became its president.[7] 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).
^Clavin, Terry. "O'Loughran, Patrick", Dictionary of Irish Biography, 2009
^Briefe relation of Ireland, and the diversity of Irish in the same [and] Priests in Ireland and Gentlemen gone abroad Compiled by Benjamin Hazzard, August 2010.
^'The Native Irish, and Their Descendants' by W. Pickering, 1846.
^'Ireland and French Enlightenment, 1700-1800' edited by G. Gargett and G. Sheridan, Springer, 1999
^THE IRISH CATHOLIC EPISCOPAL CORPS, 1657 – 1829: A PROSOPOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS, VOLUME 2 OF 2 by Eric A. Derr (PhD Thesis), Maynooth University.
irish, college, douai, irish, college, seminary, douai, france, irish, roman, catholics, exile, continent, europe, study, priesthood, modelled, english, college, there, dedicated, patrick, college, sometimes, referred, patrick, college, douai, colleges, univer. 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 St Patrick s College Douai Colleges at University of Douai Contents 1 History 2 People associated with the Irish College Douai 2 1 Alumni 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory EditIt 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 as a Spanish foundation and endowed with 5 000 florins a year by the King of Spain 1 Fr Cusack had some years earlier 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 where its Faculty of Theology took the Irish Seminary of Douai under its wing in 1610 In 1667 Louis XIV of France took control of Douai and the Irish college there 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 2 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 United Kingdom in 1793 to 1802 3 and provided back to Irish priests in 1802 People associated with the Irish College Douai EditBlessed Patrick O Loughran attended the Irish College before returning to Ireland in 1611 4 Fr Cusack served as head of the college until his death in 1619 he was succeeded by his cousin Laurence Sedgrave 5 who had been vice president and served until 1633 6 Luke Bellew from Galway studied at the college and became its president 7 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 Edit Bishop Nicholas Joseph Archdeacon Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Fr Luke Bellew served as President of the College Bishop Edward Dillon Archbishop of Tuam 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 Bishop of Clogher 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 began his studies in Douai 8 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 See also Edit Ireland portalUniversity of Douai English College Douai Scottish College Douai Irish College List of Jesuit sitesReferences Edit Christopher Cusack by Patrick M Geoghegan Cambridge Dictionary of Biography RIA The Rothe collection a legacy of the Counter Reformation in Ireland History Ireland Issue 1 Jan Feb 2013 Volume 21 Catholic Encyclopedia Clavin Terry O Loughran Patrick Dictionary of Irish Biography 2009 Briefe relation of Ireland and the diversity of Irish in the same and Priests in Ireland and Gentlemen gone abroad Compiled by Benjamin Hazzard August 2010 The Native Irish and Their Descendants by W Pickering 1846 Ireland and French Enlightenment 1700 1800 edited by G Gargett and G Sheridan Springer 1999 THE IRISH CATHOLIC EPISCOPAL CORPS 1657 1829 A PROSOPOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS VOLUME 2 OF 2 by Eric A Derr PhD Thesis Maynooth University Coordinates 50 23 N 3 05 E 50 38 N 3 08 E 50 38 3 08 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Irish College Douai amp oldid 1134344175, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
