The Priory Institute

In 2011, the Institute entered into partnership with The Institute of Technology, Tallaght (ITT). As a delegated authority of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), The Institute of Technology, Tallaght validate all the academic programmes at The Priory institute.[4] QQI is a public body, which is accountable to the Irish government and the Oireachtas and is the national accreditation board for higher education qualifications in Ireland. The Institute's certificates, diplomas and degrees are aligned with the National Framework of Qualifications NFQ structure.

In addition the Accreditation Service for International Colleges,(ASIC), recognises The Priory Institute as a Premier Institution.

St Mary's Priory was founded in 1855 by the Dominicans. The Studium of the Irish Dominican Province (Dominican House of Studies) was established at Saint Mary's Priory in 1935.[5] In May 1864 the foundation stone for the Priory was laid by Rev. Goodman provincial of the Dominicans in Ireland. The wing connecting the church and tower was completed in 1903, another wing and a library block were completed in 1958, this is the home of The Priory Institute and where Distance Learning Programmes are delivered from.[6] In 1971 the Dominican House of Studies was affiliated to the Faculty of Theology of the Dominican Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum in Rome, the Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) accredited by that university was offered. From 1993 until 2001 a Diploma in Theology programme was offered, alongside other adult education and pastoral programmes. Initially programmes were validated by the NCEA, then from 2001 its successor HETAC, from 2004 programmes were validated by University of Wales, Lampeter along with HETAC. In 2000 the Studium was moved to St. Saviour's Priory, Dorset Street, Dublin,[5] and The Priory Institute was established in Tallaght. Watchmen Raise Their Voices: A Tallaght Book of Theology was published in 2006 to celebrate 150 years of theological study in the priory in tallaght.[7]

• Archbishop Kevin William Barden O.P. - Theologian and Archbishop of Isphahan of the Latins, studied in St. Mary's Priory, and taught in St. Marys' for 30 years.
• Leonard Boyle O.P., the medieval studies and paleography scholar, studied in St. Mary's before being ordained.
• Michael Browne served as Master of Novices in Tallaght
• Austin Flannery
• Gay Mitchell, former Lord Mayor, TD, minister and MEP, eared a BA and MA from The Priory Institute
• Jerome Murphy-O'Connor O.P. - Historian, studied in Tallaght
• Michael Murphy - Newsreader, was a Dominican Novice in Tallaght
• Wilfrid Harrington O.P. Scripture lecturer at the Priory Institute and Dominican House of Studies
• Iman Ibrahim Noonan, galway based National Iman

• The Priory Institute, Tallaght Website
• St. Mary's Priory, Tallaght Website
• The Dominicans website
• The Priory Institute YouTube Channel