A Sense of Place
St Mary’s has been an increasingly integral part of West Belfast since the College was established in 1900.
Our students contribute much to the life of this area of the city, and add to its vibrancy and confidence. Our institution helps cultivate the growing vitality of this quarter of Belfast through numerous partnerships and an openness to our campus hosting community events and festivals.
Key partners in community and civic engagement include Féile an Phobail, Ireland’s largest community festival, and the West Belfast Partnership Board.
The College has a long history of involvement in various cultural events and initiatives, including music festivals, community arts programs, and Gaelic games.
We have hosted events for many years as part of the annual Féile an Phobail, a community festival celebrating Irish culture and heritage.
The College has also been involved in promoting and re-invigorating the Irish language, hosting Irish language classes and events.
Additionally, St Mary’s has a strong tradition of supporting local drama and theatre groups, and the College’s budding dramatists have delivered many successful productions over the years.
We want the College to continue to be a religious, educational, cultural and social resource for the local community and to show concern for the poor and powerless.
