Carysfort College

Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort was an important College of Education in Dublin, Republic of Ireland from its foundation in 1877 until its closure in 1988. Educating primary school teachers, and located in a parkland campus in Blackrock, it was a recognised college of the National University of Ireland from April 1975. The site is now the premises of the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.SituationThe college grounds lie just inland from Blackrock village, within the broader suburb, and comprised around 90 acres, with extensive lawns, mature trees and the Carysfort-Maretimo Stream.HistoryCarysfort Training College was set up as a training college for Catholic girls who wished to become teachers. The college was founded and run by the Sisters of Mercy. The college developed further when 'Sedes Sapientiae' (Seat of Wisdom) Training School for girls (a recognised Teacher Training college) of Catherine McAuley Baggot Street moved to Carysfort in Blackrock.The Diploma in Primary School Education awarded by the college was recognised by the Irish Government's Department of Education for teaching in primary schools. The teacher training course which had been a 2-year course, was lengthened to three years in 1974.In 1975 reforms in the education system in Ireland saw Carysfort become a recognised college of the National University of Ireland along with other teacher training colleges such as Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra. These reforms saw Carysfort and other institutions award the BEd Degree for their teacher training programmes, in 1977. The college also offered a postgraduate qualification in primary school teaching.