Athlone Institute of Technology

History

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.

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. RTÉ's Midlands studio and office have been located at the institute.

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

College of sanctuary

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

AIT-LIT Consortium and dissolution

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.

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

Facilities

• 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

AIT International Arena

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.

Notable alumni

Arts and Media

• Anne Rigney, contemporary visual artist and sculptor
• Jacksepticeye, Irish YouTuber
• Yewande Biala, Love Island contestant

Politics

• Justin Barrett, Irish politician
• Gabrielle McFadden, Fine Gael politician
• Nicky McFadden, Fine Gael politician
• Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil politician

Sports

• David McGowan, rugby union player
• Shane Lowry, golfer
• Declan Qualter, hurler
• Bundee Aki, rugby union player
• Patrick Hickey, professional footballer

References

References

1. [https://president.ie/en/media-library/speeches/remarks-by-president-mcaleese-at-the-fortieth-anniversary-dinner-celebratio REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY DINNER CELEBRATION OF ATHLONE IT] Media Library, www.president.ie
2. "Campus Developments".
3. (21 September 2012). "2012 press releases - RTA midlands office to be re-located to AIT". Athlone Institute of Technology.
4. (16 October 2012). "2012 press releases AIT Signs MoU with Rio de Janeiro State University". Athlone Institute of Technology.
5. (20 November 2011). "2011 press releases - AIT Signs Agreement with Brazilian University". Athlone Institute of Technology.
6. [http://www.ait.ie/aboutaitandathlone/newsevents/pressreleases/2010pressreleases/title-3506-en.html 2010 press releases] {{webarchive. link. (5 March 2016 . Athlone Institute of Technology. (30 March 2010).)
7. [http://www.ait.ie/aboutaitandathlone/newsevents/pressreleases/2010pressreleases/title-4184-en.html 2010 press releases] {{webarchive. link. (6 March 2016 . Athlone Institute of Technology. (12 May 2010).)
8. [http://www.ait.ie/aboutaitandathlone/newsevents/pressreleases/2010pressreleases/title-2961-en.html 2010 press releases] {{webarchive. link. (4 March 2016 . Athlone Institute of Technology. (1 March 2010).)
9. [http://www.ait.ie/aboutaitandathlone/newsevents/pressreleases/2009pressreleases/title-600-en.html 2009 press releases] {{webarchive. link. (4 January 2016 . Athlone Institute of Technology. (21 January 2009).)
10. [http://www.ait.ie/aboutaitandathlone/newsevents/pressreleases/2009pressreleases/title-593-en.html 2009 press releases] {{webarchive. link. (4 January 2016 . Athlone Institute of Technology. (25 August 2009).)
11. . (16 June 2017). ["Athlone IT is the first College of Sanctuary in Ireland"](https://ireland.cityofsanctuary.org/2017/06/16/athlone-it-on-its-way-to-become-a-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".
13. (16 July 2021). "Athlone IT Officially Dissolved Today". [[Midlands 103]].
14. (16 July 2021). "Minister signs order to dissolve AIT and establish new technological university". [[Offaly Independent]].
15. Verney, Deirdre. (29 September 2023). "Design work for revamp of former RTC building to begin".
16. "AIT International Arena – Athlone Institute of Technology".
17. (11 September 2014). "Mixed media exhibition to be launched at Culture Night".
18. (21 August 2020). "Jacksepticeye "flies back to Athlone" in new video".
19. (28 May 2019). "Yewande Biala: Meet the Dublin scientist entering the Love Island villa".
20. Deaglan de Breadun. (5 October 2002). "Taking on the big boys". Irish Times.
21. (27 January 2024). "Nicky McFadden honoured by Athlone Institute of Technology".
22. (21 July 2019). "British Open champion Shane Lowry, an amazing Irish success story".