Standing on Clonliffe Road, just north of Dublin, the Mater Dei Campus is a place rich in history and faith. This is where the Mater Dei Institute of Education once stood, a Catholic institution dedicated to training teachers in the heart of the city.
The Mater Dei Institute of Education was formed in 1966, its founding a response to the challenges presented by the Second Vatican Council. Its rich history is reflected in this very building.
This campus is unique in its purpose as it carries the legacy of not only one but two Catholic Colleges of Education, Mater Dei and Saint Patrick’s, both of which have been incorporated into Dublin City University.
While Mater Dei used to have approximately 800 students, now, this campus, as part of DCU, offers an array of courses in education, humanities, religious studies, and faith formation, continuing the grand tradition of the Institute.
The Dublin City University Mater Dei Campus continues the important work of the Institute: fostering strong educators who are dedicated to the Catholic faith. It reflects a vibrant history of education, one that is intertwined with the very fabric of the Catholic Church in Ireland.