National University of Ireland is an institution of higher education in the Republic of Ireland. It consists of four universities—Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Maynooth—and six colleges. The colleges are the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; St. Angela’s College of Education, Sligo; the National College of Art and Design; the Shannon College of Hotel Management; the Institute of Public Administration; and the Milltown Institute. The university offers a number of subjects in the Irish language as well as in English.
The National University of Ireland, Dublin, (Ollscoil na hEireann, Baile Atha Cliath) is the largest single university institution in Ireland. It was founded as the Catholic University of Ireland in 1851 and was renamed University College Dublin (UCD) in 1881. UCD received its charter in 1908 and was incorporated as a college of the National University of Ireland (NUI). In 1997, the college became a university within NUI. Its full name is University College Dublin – National University of Ireland, Dublin. During the 1960’s, the main campus transferred from the city center to its present site at Belfield, in south Dublin. The university has a number of schools that offer a wide range of courses in the humanities and sciences.
The National University of Ireland, Cork, (Ollscoil na hEireann, Corcaigh) was founded in 1845 as Queen’s College, Cork. It became a college of the National University of Ireland in 1908, when it was renamed University College, Cork. In 1997, it became a university within NUI. Its full name is University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork. National University of Ireland, Cork, is the second largest university in Ireland.
The National University of Ireland, Galway, (Ollscoil na hEireann, Gaillimh) stands on the banks of the River Corrib, in Galway. It was founded in 1845 as Queen’s College, Galway. It became a college of the National University of Ireland in 1908, when it was renamed University College, Galway. It became a university within NUI and acquired its present name in 1997.
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth, (Ollscoil na hEireann, Ma Nuad) traces its origins to St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, which was founded in 1795. It became a college of the National University of Ireland in 1910, through its faculties of Arts, Celtic Studies, Philosophy, and Science. In 1997, the college became a university with the name National University of Ireland, Maynooth. The university shares space with St. Patrick’s College on the original campus and also has a separate campus in Maynooth.
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland was founded in 1784 and became a college of the National University of Ireland in 1977. St. Angela’s College of Education, Sligo, was founded in 1952 and became a college of the National University of Ireland in 1978. The National College of Art and Design began as a private drawing school in Dublin in 1746 and became a college of the National University of Ireland in 1996. The Shannon College of Hotel Management was founded in 1951 and became a college of the National University of Ireland in 2000. The Institute of Public Administration was founded in 1957 and became a college of the National University of Ireland in 2001. The Milltown Institute was established in the 1880’s and became the sixth college in 2005.
The university’s website at https://www.nui.ie/ offers additional information.
