St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth

Saint Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth

Coláiste Phádraig, Má Nuad
Latin: Collegium Sti Patricii Apud Manutium
Other name	Maynooth College
Former names	Royal College of Saint Patrick Maynooth
Type	Roman Catholic, private
Established	1795; 229 years ago (1795)
Academic affiliations	Maynooth University (1997–present), National University of Ireland (1910–1997), Royal University of Ireland (1882–1909) Catholic University of Ireland (1876–1882), IFCU[1]
President	Michael Mullaney
Dean	Jessie Rogers, Thomas Casey, Michael Shortall
Undergraduates	360
Postgraduates	120
Doctoral students	18
Other students	620
Location	Maynooth , Ireland 53°22′49″N 6°35′46″W / 53.3804°N 6.5961°W / 53.3804; -6.5961
Website	www.maynoothcollege.ie

St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth (Irish: Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is a pontifical Catholic university in the town of Maynooth near Dublin, Ireland. The college and national seminary on its grounds are often referred to as Maynooth College.

The college was officially established as the Royal College of St Patrick by Maynooth College Act 1795. Thomas Pelham, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, introduced a bill for the foundation of a Catholic college, and this was enacted by parliament. It was opened to hold up to 500 students for the Catholic priesthood of whom up to 90 would be ordained each year, and was once the largest seminary in the world.

Degrees are awarded by the Pontifical University at Maynooth, which was established by a pontifical charter of 1896. The pontifical charter entitles the university to grant degrees in canon law, philosophy and theology.

The college is associated with the state-run Maynooth University, with which it shares an historic campus, as well as certain facilities.