St Patrick’s College in Thurles has increased its standing as an integral part of teacher-training in Ireland after being incorporated with Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
The incorporation, which will take place formally, next year, will result in St Patrick’s becoming an official campus of Mary Immaculate.
The decision was taken following a recent recommendation that the number of teacher training colleges be reduced from the current level of 19 to 6 specialist education centres.
The new arrangement will see four of the Limerick college’s degree programmes provided at the Thurles campus in areas such as Irish, Religious Studies, Accounting and Business Studies.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister Alan Kelly said that the Thurles campus will be the location where a large volume of the important subject areas will be taught.
Also commenting, the president of St Patrick’s, Fr. Tom Fogarty said it means that there will be a continuation of teaching and educational facilities in St Patrick’s and jobs in Limerick and in Thurles will be maintained and the future looks good.
