College of the Immaculate Conception, Prague


College of the Immaculate Conception, Prague, was a Franciscan College, founded in 1629 by Irish Franciscan priests from Louvain. Instrumental in its foundation was its first Rector Patrick Fleming from Leuven, also involved was Fr Malachy Fallon, the Professor of Theology in Louvain, who persuaded the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II to permit foundation of an Irish College in Prague. The establishment was seen as being part of a re-catholicisation of Bohemia, by the Habsburgs, but also to provide clergy for Ireland.
The College was suppressed in 1786 by Habsburg Emperor Joseph II, following his Secularization Decrees.
Most of the house and the church are still standing on Hybernska Street, in Prague, Czech Republic. The building became a Tax office.

People Associated with the College