Athlone Institute of Technology

Former higher educational institution

Athlone Institute of Technology

Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Luain

Logo of the institute of technology

Former name

| Athlone Regional Technical College
Motto| English: Connect and Discover
Type| Public
Active| 1970 (1970)–16 July 2021 (2021-07-16)
President| Ciarán Ó Catháin

Academic staff

| 256+
Students| 6,000+
Address|

University Road

Athlone

Leinster

N37 HD68

Ireland

53°25′05″N 7°54′17″W﻿ / ﻿53.41794°N 7.90462°W﻿ / 53.41794; -7.90462
Campus| 18 hectares (44 acres)
Colours|  Red, blue, and yellow
Website| ait.ie
Entrance of AIT main campus AIT Engineering & Science Building AIT John Count McCormack Centre AIT Sport

The Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT; Irish: Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Luain) was an institute of technology, located in Athlone, Ireland. Established in 1970, the institute's campus was located on University Road.

A consortium between itself and the Limerick Institute of Technology was announced with the intention of forming a technological university. On 23 November 2020, the AIT-LIT Consortium announced that the joint Limerick-Athlone IT application for technological university (TU) status had been submitted for approval, which was granted in May 2021.

On 16 July 2021, the institute of technology was officially dissolved and succeeded by the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, which began operations on 1 October 2021.

## History

[edit]

The Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) was established by the Irish government in 1970 as the Athlone Regional Technical College, under control of the local Vocational Education Committee. The college gained more autonomy with the enactment of the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992. In late 1997, as with the other RTC's, it was renamed as the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT). In 1999, AIT became a validation authority with the power to award HETAC degrees.

In 2000, Ciarán Ó Catháin was appointed as the institute's president. Dr. David Fenton and James Coyle were previous holders of the post, having been called director and principal. In 2001, a School of Humanities was opened. In 2010, then-president of Ireland Mary McAleese spoke at the fortieth anniversary of the college.[1]

The AIT had a campus size of 44 acres, and new, purpose-built facilities that included the Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Studies building, built in 2003; the Nursing and Health Science building and the Midlands Innovation and Research Centre, built in 2005; as well as the Engineering and Informatics building and the Postgraduate Research Hub, built in 2010.[2] RTÉ's Midlands studio and office have been located at the institute.[3]

The institute had a memorandum of understanding with the Rio de Janeiro State University, one of the largest universities in the Brazilian city.[4] It also had agreements with the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, one of the largest Brazilian private universities.[5] The institute also founded agreements with two leading Beijing universities, the Capital University of Economics and Business and the Beijing Union University.[6][7] The agreements were signed by the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland and university representatives.[7] Other agreements existed between the institute and TVTC, in Saudi Arabia, and a memorandum of understanding existed with the Georgia Institute of Technology.[8][9] Further agreements existed with the Bharati Vidyapeeth, one of the largest universities in India.[10]

### College of sanctuary

[edit]

In 2017, AIT became the first designated college of sanctuary in Ireland.[11]

### AIT-LIT Consortium and dissolution

[edit]

In 2018, the institute had investigated the possibility of becoming a university in its own right. A consortium between itself and the Limerick Institute of Technology was announced in October 2019 with the intention of forming a technological university. On 23 November 2020, the AIT-LIT Consortium announced that the joint Limerick-Athlone IT application for technological university (TU) status had been submitted for approval. Approval was announced in May 2021 by minister of Higher Education, Simon Harris.[12]

On 16 July 2021, both itself and the Limerick Institute of Technology were officially dissolved through a signed order by the minister.[13] The institute was succeeded by the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, which began operations on 1 October 2021.[14]

## Facilities

[edit]

* The Goldsmith Library, named after Oliver Goldsmith, novelist, playwright and poet
* McCormack Hall, performance venue named after John McCormack, tenor
* Northgate street, former site of art and design, to be converted in to a digital hub[15]

### AIT International Arena

[edit]

AIT International Arena, 2015

An international athletics arena with an overall building floor area of 9,715 m2 was opened in early 2013. The arena can house 2,000 spectators and was constructed at a cost of €10 million.[16]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (June 2021)

|

Arts and Media

* Anne Rigney, contemporary visual artist and sculptor[17]
* Jacksepticeye, Irish YouTuber[18]
* Yewande Biala, Love Island contestant[19]

Politics

* Justin Barrett, Irish politician[20]
* Gabrielle McFadden, Fine Gael politician
* Nicky McFadden, Fine Gael politician[21]
* Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil politician

Sports

* David McGowan, rugby union player
* Shane Lowry, golfer[22]
* Declan Qualter, hurler
* Bundee Aki, rugby union player

## See also

[edit]

* Education in the Republic of Ireland
* List of higher education institutions in the Republic of Ireland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY DINNER CELEBRATION OF ATHLONE IT Media Library, www.president.ie
2. ^ "Campus Developments". Athlone Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
3. ^ "2012 press releases - RTA midlands office to be re-located to AIT" (Press release). Athlone Institute of Technology. 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
4. ^ "2012 press releases AIT Signs MoU with Rio de Janeiro State University" (Press release). Athlone Institute of Technology. 16 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020..
5. ^ "2011 press releases - AIT Signs Agreement with Brazilian University" (Press release). Athlone Institute of Technology. 20 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
6. ^ 2010 press releases Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (30 March 2010).
7. ^ a b 2010 press releases Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (12 May 2010).
8. ^ 2010 press releases Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (1 March 2010).
9. ^ 2009 press releases Archived 4 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (21 January 2009).
10. ^ 2009 press releases Archived 4 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (25 August 2009).
11. ^ "Athlone IT is the first College of Sanctuary in Ireland". Places of Sanctuary Ireland. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018. "Athlone IT, a midland college with global reputation and international students from over 60 countries, including Mid East and East Asia, has become the first College of Sanctuary in Ireland."
12. ^ Kelly Palenque, Brendan (5 May 2021). "Limerick IT and Athlone IT to merge to form new technological university". Independent.ie. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
13. ^ "Athlone IT Officially Dissolved Today". Midlands 103. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
14. ^ "Minister signs order to dissolve AIT and establish new technological university". Offaly Independent. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
15. ^ Verney, Deirdre (29 September 2023). "Design work for revamp of former RTC building to begin". Westmeath Independent.
16. ^ "AIT International Arena – Athlone Institute of Technology". Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
17. ^ "Mixed media exhibition to be launched at Culture Night". 11 September 2014.
18. ^ "Jacksepticeye "flies back to Athlone" in new video". 21 August 2020.
19. ^ "Yewande Biala: Meet the Dublin scientist entering the Love Island villa". 28 May 2019.
20. ^ Deaglan de Breadun (5 October 2002). "Taking on the big boys". Irish Times.
21. ^ "Nicky McFadden honoured by Athlone Institute of Technology". 27 January 2024.
22. ^ "British Open champion Shane Lowry, an amazing Irish success story". 21 July 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Athlone

History|

* Siege of Athlone
* Earl of Athlone
* Ennis baronets
* Athlone Castle
* Sean's Bar

Politics|

* Athlone (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
* Athlone (UK Parliament constituency)

Culture|

* Dean Crowe Theatre & Arts Centre
* The Little Theatre
* Luan Gallery

Education|

* TUS: Midlands Midwest \- Athlone campus (AIT)
* Athlone Community College
* Marist College
* St. Aloysius College

Sport|

* Athlone GAA
* Garrycastle GAA
* Athlone Town A.F.C.
* Athlone Town A.F.C. Ladies
* Buccaneers RFC
* St Mel's Park
* Athlone Town Stadium

* v
* t
* e

Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology in Ireland

TUs|

* Atlantic TU (Galway-Mayo, Sligo, Letterkenny)
* TU Dublin (City, Blanchardstown, Tallaght)
* Munster TU (Cork, Tralee)
* TU Shannon: Midlands Midwest (Athlone, Limerick)
* South East TU (Carlow, Waterford)

Independent ITs|

* Dundalk
* Dún Laoghaire

See also: List of higher education institutions in the Republic of Ireland

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

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