The Mount Melleray Campus Series: From history to hospitality, one update at a time.

• We will be doing a series of articles on the Mount Melleray campus as Dan Schreck and his team work this summer to get it ready for students this fall. Follow us on social media for videos and check here often for added information and pictures.
• Hello alumni, this is Dan Schreck, Chief Strategy Officer at Ave Maria University. It's good to see 00:06 you guys. You should come visit us in Ireland. This is our new campus, Mount Mallory Abbey. Here's 00:11 a cool fact about this church. About 100 years ago, the IRA burnt down a castle about probably 40 00:19 miles away from here. They burnt down the castle and all of a sudden one day at the door, what was of it at least, the monks came knocking, the Cistercians. And the former lord of this manor 00:29 said, what are you doing here? They said, we want your stones of your huge castle. Why? Because you 00:34 can't put it back together again. It was burnt to the ground. So over five years, they imported 00:39 those stones here to this massive abbey. The church that you see today took five years and they 00:46 built this church from a castle that had been burnt down. The history here is so rich. 00:53 We hope you come visit our second campus, your second campus.
• Mount Melleray Abbey stands at the heart of Ireland's Catholic revival following centuries of persecution. Founded in 1832 after Catholic Emancipation, the monastery marked the return of the Cistercian Order to Ireland and quickly became a center of prayer, learning, and pilgrimage. For nearly two centuries, Mount Melleray has served as a spiritual and cultural landmark—welcoming monks, students, and pilgrims while preserving a way of life shaped by silence, prayer, and discipline. Its history is inseparable from the broader story of Irish Catholicism, which helped preserve faith and learning in Europe. "In 2025, the Cistercian community consolidated its presence elsewhere in Ireland, opening a new chapter for Mount Melleray. In partnership with the local bishop and the Cistercian Order, Ave Maria University now continues this legacy of faith and learning. Students will be welcomed into a place of living tradition that fully respects the Abbey's spiritual character, the life of prayer, and the local community." — Fr. Malachy KEY MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF MOUNT MELLERAY ABBEY 1832 — Mount Melleray Abbey is founded 1838 — The abbey church opens to the public for worship 1843 — Mount Melleray College opens as a school for local boys 1935 — Construction begins on the new abbey church and chapter house 1952 — The new abbey church is consecrated 1980 — Major repairs are carried out on the abbey church 1982 — A new altar is consecrated 1998 — Celebration of 900 years of the Cistercian Order in the life of the Church 2025 — The Mount Melleray community merges at Our Lady of Silence, Roscrea 2026 — Ave Maria University launches its campus at Mount Melleray Abbey in collaboration with the Irish Cistercians
• Ave Maria University students are invited to step into a fully integrated academic experience at Mount Melleray Abbey, a historic Cistercian monastery and AMU's new international instructional campus. Life at the Abbey campus is selective, welcoming students who are academically prepared, personally responsible, and ready for a transformational semester of prayer, study, work, and adventureThe Ireland program is built to keep you on track. With eight core classes offered, you can earn the credits you need while gaining international experience—without delaying graduationYour semester in Ireland doesn't just fit into your Ave Maria University education—it enhances it. You'll take core courses taught by AMU faculty all while staying on track for your graduation timelineRooted in the Cistercian tradition of ora et labora (prayer and work), the program integrates faith, study, and daily life. Students will have access to a rich rhythm of prayer and sacramental life throughout the semester. Faith life at Mount Melleray includes: Daily Mass Daily adoration Regular confession A dedicated priest assigned to the campusThere are many options for international travel from the US to Dublin. An AMU vehicle will collect you from the airport and transfer you to Mount Melleray Abbey. The Mount Melleray Abbey campus offers the perfect balance of rural serenity and accessibility to Ireland's treasures. The program will also allow for travel. FROM MOUNT MELLERAY: 7 minutes to Cappoquin (nearest town) 1 hour to Cork Airport (international flights) 2.5 hours to Dublin (Ireland's capital) 25 minutes to stunning beaches

Exciting news! You are invited to attend the re-opening of Mt. Melleray Abbey on September 19-20th. Alumni will be given VIP access. We look forward to sharing this historic event with the university you helped form. Registration https://www.avemaria.edu/ireland/opening-mass

Ave Maria University is preparing to welcome its first cohort of students to Mount Melleray Abbey in County Waterford, Ireland—our new international instructional campus. Chief Strategy Officer Dan Schreck and his team are working hard behind the scenes to ensure every detail is perfect by fall. We'll be sharing updates throughout the summer via social media videos and right here on this page, so check back often for photos and fresh developments as this historic campus comes to life.

Mount Melleray Abbey is no ordinary location. Founded in 1832 during Ireland's Catholic Emancipation, the monastery stands as a living monument to faith and learning—a place where nearly two centuries of spiritual tradition, prayer, and education have unfolded. There's even a remarkable story woven into the very stones of the abbey church: built over five years from stones salvaged from a castle burned by the IRA a century ago. This is a place where history breathes, where the Cistercian values of ora et labora—prayer and work—shaped daily life for generations. Now, Ave Maria University has been entrusted to continue that legacy in partnership with the local bishop and the Cistercian community.

For Ave Maria students, a semester at Mount Melleray offers a transformational experience that truly enhances their education. They'll earn core credits with AMU faculty without delaying the graduation timeline, all while immersed in a rhythm of daily Mass, adoration, confession, and sacramental life. The campus sits in serene rural Waterford—just minutes from charming villages and stunning beaches—yet remains well-connected to Cork Airport and Dublin. It's the perfect blend of contemplative community and adventure.

Whether you're an alumnus from our Michigan, Vineyards, or Ave Maria campus, curious about where Ave Maria is heading, we invite you to follow along as we share this journey. Stay tuned to our social media and this page for videos, photos, and stories from Mount Melleray. Better yet, as Dan says, you should come visit us in Ireland—your second campus awaits.