Maynooth University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Maynooth University (MU), located in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland, is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It was established in 1997 by the Universities Act, evolving from the secular faculties of St Patrick's College, which was founded in 1795. Maynooth is unique as the only university town in Ireland, with two connected campuses: an older southern campus shared with St Patrick’s College, and a modern northern campus. The university has over 16,000 students and employs more than 1,000 staff from over 20 countries. It has been recognized for its academic excellence, ranking in the Top 500 universities worldwide and receiving the Sunday Times’ University of the Year award in 2008. In 2023, Times Higher Education named it the Number 1 Young University in Ireland.The history of Maynooth University is closely tied to St Patrick’s College, which began as a Catholic seminary in 1795 and became a constituent college of the Catholic University of Ireland in 1876. The college was a recognized part of the National University of Ireland from 1910, awarding degrees in arts and sciences, while theology degrees were conferred by its Pontifical University. Lay students were readmitted in 1966, leading to the eventual creation of Maynooth University as a separate institution in 1997. Since then, the university has expanded its offerings to include business, law, finance, and engineering.Throughout its history, Maynooth has seen significant developments, including the addition of new departments and modern facilities like the John Paul II Library. Leadership has evolved over the years, with Eeva Leinonen becoming the university’s first female president in 2021. The university maintains a rich heritage while embracing growth and innovation, serving as a key institution in Ireland’s higher education landscape.