St Anthony's College, Leuven


The Irish College of St Anthony, known in Irish as Coláiste na nGael, in Leuven, Belgium, has been a centre of Irish learning on the European Continent since the early 17th century. The College was dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua.

History

The college was founded in 1607 by Florence Conry, Archbishop of Tuam, and Irish Franciscan Hugh MacCaghwell, as an exile institution for the training of Irish Franciscan priests. A bull of foundation was acquired from Pope Paul V. The foundation stone of the current building was laid in 1617. Funding came from Isabella Clara Eugenia, wife and co-ruler with Archduke Albert. It was one of the main centres of Irish learning and the preservation of Irish intellectual culture during penal times.
Following the Flight of the Earls a number of the O'Neill and O'Donnells stayed in Louvain.
Closed down by the French invaders in 1794, the buildings housed first a seminary and later a boys' school during the 19th century. In 1925 the Irish Franciscans again acquired the site, using it for their own educational purposes until 1983. They then transferred the property to the Leuven Institute of Ireland in Europe, a secular academic institution.

People associated with the College

Important works published by scholars associated with the College

Amongst the most notable Irish scholars associated with the College were, in alphabetical order: Bishop Dominic de Burgo, John Colgan, Aodh Mac Cathmhaoil, Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, Giolla Bhríde Ó hEodhasa and Flaithrí Ó Maol Chonaire.

Notable staff and alumni

A number of people who are buried at the college include founder Archbishop Florence Conry, Bishop Dominic de Burgo and Dominic Lynch. Rosa O’Doherty, wife of Owen Roe O’Neill, is also buried on the College grounds, a number of the others of the exiled O'Neills and O'Donnells are buried here.