Holy Cross College

Holy Cross College (also known as Clonliffe College), located in Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra was founded in 1854 as the Catholic diocesan seminary for Dublin by Cardinal Paul Cullen. History The College was founded in 1859 by the then Archbishop of Dublin Paul Cullen, to provide priests for the Dublin diocese. In 1861 Rector of the Catholic University Bartholomew Woodlock tried to secure land in Clonliffe west to build a new Catholic University, however this plan was shelved due to the expansion of the railway line. Plans were drawn up by the Architect James Joseph McCarthy for the proposed new University, McCarthy a famous architect designed the college building. Following the University Education (Ireland) Act 1879 which incorporated the Royal University of Ireland, the Catholic University of Ireland was reconstituted as to comprise all Catholic Colleges including Holy Cross College, Clonliffe. Students would sit exams for the Royal University. Since the royal university was prohibited in awarding degrees in theology, the Catholic University would confer degrees in theology and divinity, such as BD and DD. Between 1881 and 1908 some 81 Clonliffe students graduated with a BA from the Royal University of Ireland.