Newman College Ireland was a Catholic liberal arts college in Northern Ireland which was opened in 2014. Named after Cardinal

John Henry Newman John Henry Newman (21 February 1801 – 11 August 1890) was an English Catholic theologian, academic, philosopher, historian, writer, and poet. He was previously an Anglican priest and after his conversion became a cardinal. He was an ...

, the founder of the

Catholic University of Ireland The Catholic University of Ireland (CUI; ) was a private Catholic Church, Catholic university in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1851 following the Synod of Thurles in 1850, and in response to the Queen's University of Ireland and its assoc ...

which became

University College Dublin University College Dublin (), commonly referred to as UCD, is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland. With 38,417 students, it is Ireland's largest ...

, the college aimed to create third level institution which embodies the Catholic ethos. The college was supported by disability rights campaigner and former MEP

Kathy Sinnott Kathy Sinnott (; born 29 September 1950) is an American-Irish disability rights activist and politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South constituency from 2004 to 2009. Early life Sinnott was born in Chicag ...

. Dr. Nicholas Healy was the CEO and served as president of Newman College Ireland. He is a president emeritus of

Ave Maria University Ave Maria University (AMU) is a Private university, private Catholic Church, Catholic university in Ave Maria, Florida. It existed formerly as "Ave Maria College" in Ypsilanti, Michigan, which was founded in 1998 and reestablished in 2007 along ...

and a former vice president of Franciscan University of Steubenville . Fundraisers and supporters for the establishment of the college were based in the United States. The economist and UCD Professor Ray Kinsella served as a board member for the college, as did the artist Dony MacManus.

Curriculum

The aim was to be a Catholic college with liberal arts as its primary curriculum and offer courses in theology, history, philosophy, literature, mathematics, economics and natural science. The college pledged to "adhere fully" to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Blessed John Paul II’s apostolic constitution on Catholic universities. Newman College commenced its courses in September 2014 accredited by

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts is a Private college, private Catholic liberal arts college in Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States. Established in 1978, it emphasizes Classical education movement, classical education in the Catholic ...

Merrimack, New Hampshire Merrimack is a New England town, town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 26,632 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. There are four villages in the town: Merrimack Village (formerly known as So ...

. Lectures in the first year were delivered in Rome, initially in rooms in St. Peter's Basilica, then in the second semester at the Thomas More Campus outside Rome. The 2015 academic year commenced in September of that year undert the tutelage of Mr. Robert F. Cassidy, STL, who acted as both Director of the Programme, and Student Life Director. He was also a member of the Academic Staff. Courses were based in the Drummond Hotel in Ballykelly, Limavady,

County Londonderry County Londonderry (Ulster Scots dialects, Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry (), is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty-two Counties of Ireland, count ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

, thanks to the kindness of Mr. Jim and Mrs. Miraid Peoples. Over 2015 and 2016, during the Marian year, the college ran a course in Mariology. Newman College Ireland was also a sponsor of the Fatima Centenary Conference in 2017.

Academic staff

Among the academic staff of Newman College were Dr. Gaven Kerr (Philosophy), Rev. Dr. Fr. Oliver Treanor (Sacred Scripture), Mr. Robert F. Cassidy, STL (Theology), Maghnus Monaghan (Music), Fr. Thomas Crean OP (Philosophy and Theology), Dr. John Britto (Biblical Theology, Hebrew Psalms), Fr.

Dermot Fenlon Diarmaid () is a masculine given name in the Irish language, which has historically been anglicized as Jeremiah or Jeremy, names with which it is etymologically unrelated. The name Dimity might have been used as a feminine English equivalent of ...

(History).

Graduation

The first graduation ceremony for the college took place on 28 April 2018. A Graduation Mass took place in St. Finlough’s Church, Ballykelly, celebrated by Cardinal

Seán Brady Seán Brady or similar names may refer to: * Seán Brady (cardinal) (born 1939), Irish cardinal and former archbishop of Armagh * Sean Brady (fighter) (born 1992), American mixed martial artist * Seán Brady (Teachta Dála) (1890–1969), Fianna Fá ...

, with a reception in the parish hall. As part of the graduation, the college conferred an honorary degree to

Sister Consilio Sr Consilio 'Eileen' Fitzgerald (born 9 January 1937) is an Irish nun who set up Cuan Mhuire, a charitable drug, alcohol and gambling rehabilitation organisation in Ireland.Cuan Mhuire Cuan Mhuire (; Irish for " Mary's Harbour") is a charitable drug, alcohol and gambling rehabilitation organisation in Ireland. Cuan Mhuire provides a residential programme to persons suffering from alcohol, other chemical dependencies and gambl ...

, and presented its ''Courage in the Public Square'' award to Katie Ascough - the impeached students' union president of

Closure

The college did not reopen its doors for the academic year 2018/2019, but sent its remaining students to

, where they completed their degrees. Their teacher Fr. Thomas Creen, joined them at Thomas Moore College, where he taught and also provided pastoral care to the NCI students.TMC welcomes Father Creen
By Ella Fordyce, Class of 2019, Thomas More College, September 2018.

References

External links

* (defunct)
Newman College Ireland Facebook Page
(inactive) {{coord, 55.04698, -7.01068, type:edu_globe:earth_region:IE, display=title Universities and colleges in Northern Ireland Educational institutions established in 2014 Educational institutions disestablished in 2018 2014 establishments in Ireland 2018 disestablishments in Ireland