St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 24 kms (15 mi) from Dublin, The college was officially established as the Royal College of St Patrick by an Act of Grattan's Parliament in 1795.
In 1968 lay students were accepted; for degree courses and by 1977 they outnumbered religious students. Finally in 1997 a Government Act provided for the creation of the separate National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
Yours truly has happy memories of studying for his degree there but that neither added to or subtracted from the fame of the college!!