It could be said that Ireland's national school system was born in 1831 with the establishment of a system of State-funded nondenominational national education under a Board of Commissioners. By 1860, almost half a million pupils were enrolled.

Qualified teachers were obviously required and, in 1838, a State-financed non-denominational training college for men was opened in Marlborough Street, Dublin, and for women in 1842. As the vast majority of children attending national schools were Catholic, this was viewed with some disquiet by the church authorities.

An official enquiry into primary school education in 1868-1870 found that only 34 per cent of teachers in national schools had professional training. In a bid to remedy this, the Powis Report of 1870 recommended State recognition of training institutions set up by religious orders under specified conditions.

Dr Walsh, the Catholic archbishop of Dublin, initiated the foundation of two training colleges in Dublin, St Patrick's in Drumcondra in 1875, under the Vincentian Fathers (accepting male students only), and a college under the Sisters of Mercy (all female students) in Baggot Street, Dublin, in 1877.

On October 18th, 1896, Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, sought sanction for the establishment of a teacher-training college in Limerick to supply female national teachers. License was granted for a college to accommodate 75 students, but the plans for the new college cannily provided accommodation for 100 "Queen's Scholars".

Eleven acres on the south-west side of the city were jointly purchased by the bishop and the Sisters of Mercy and building began in 1898. Mother Angela Bourke, superior at St Mary's, and her assistant, visited teacher-training colleges in Britain to inform themselves on the running of a training college. A short time later, Sister Paul Quinlan, future principal, and Sister Veronica Cullinan, future vice-principal, spent a year at the progressive Mount Pleasant training college in Liverpool.

The foundation stone was laid in 1899. The annals of St Mary's record: "The bishops, priests, ladies and gentlemen who attended the ceremony went to the Mount Convent where they were entertained to luncheon. The elaborate meal cost £18.9.7."

The college opened its doors to the first set of students on September 21st, 1901. Of the 75 students, 25 were "one-year" students who had previous experience of teaching, while the remainder were known as Queen's Scholars and they entered for the two-year course of training.

The first written examination was held in the college in July 1902, with subjects including reading, penmanship, spelling and punctuation, grammar, composition, geography, English literature, arithmetic and mensuration and theory of method.

With the advent of Irish independence in 1922, a radical change followed in the curriculum and culture of primary schools. The new Provisional Government saw the primary schools as the spearhead of its policy to promoting an Irish Ireland. Teacher training was to change also.

"Cuid de Ghaeltacht na hEireann isea Colaiste Muire gan Smal," wrote a student in 1934. All courses were taught through the medium of Irish and it became the everyday language of the college.

In 1956, a substantial extension to the college was completed, comprising 120 study-bedrooms, a dining hall, large locker room and music rooms. This was to cater for the substantial increase in student intake that year. In 1964, the library was expanded and a new auditorium built.

The 1960s also brought a change in uniform for the students from a navy dress and collar with black stockings to a "well-cut maroon pinafore frock and white blouse". Finally, the uniform was phased out as was the night curfew.

In 1970, the HEA recommended a three-year course for teachers, leading to a degree in education. In 1974, Mary Immaculate became a recognised college of the National University of Ireland and, that same year, the BEd was inaugurated. In the 1980s a sharp decline in birth rate meant uncertainty for teacher-training colleges. Mary Immaculate responded by drawing up plans to diversify, including the introduction of a BA and postgraduate programmes in education and arts.

In 1990, Mary Immaculate and the University of Limerick became linked colleges, with UL first conferring degrees in 1995.

(The above information is taken from Passing on the Torch: A History of Mary Immaculate College, 1898- 1998, written by Sister Loreto O'Connor and published in 1998 by Mary Immaculate College to mark the college's centenary.)

This year, 1999, marks the inauguration of the first lay head of Mary Immaculate College, Dr Peader Cremin, and the first lay head of St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dr Pauric Travers. A review of teacher training may soon result in the present three-year BEd being extended to a four-year programme.