Search Results for 'Griffin Building'

There is historical evidence to show that the Jesuits were already in the city in the early 1600s, combining the work of ministry and education. In 1645, the Order set up their first college in Galway on Lower Abbeygate Street, where Powell’s shop is today. They were forced to leave the city by the Cromwellians, but they came back. They were forced to leave the city by the Williamites, but they came back. They had to close their Galway residence in 1768 due to a lack of manpower but they were persistent and came back again, and in 1859 they took over a house on Prospect Hill and the following year, set up a college in Eyre Square.

One hundred and sixty years ago, in 1862, the Jesuits opened the doors of St Ignatius' College on Sea Road for the first time. They also opened a community residence and a church at the same time. To take on such an ambitious building project at a time when the economic state of the country was so bad took courage and vision.