A Catholic university based in Florida, in the US, has claimed it is setting up a new campus in Co Waterford.
Ave Maria University is planning to open a new campus for students at the former Cistercian monastery of Mount Melleray near Cappoquin, according to a video posted on its YouTube channel.
The university's website states that Ave Maria exists to "further teaching, research, and learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the abiding tradition of Catholic thought in both national and international settings".
The private university, located in southwest Florida, was founded by Thomas Monaghan.
The American entrepreneur and philanthropist also founded Domino’s Pizza in 1960 before selling the company and divesting his other business interests with the aim of promoting Catholic higher education.
The video posted on the university’s YouTube page states that the "hallmarks of Ave Maria University" will be "vividly expressed" at its new Mount Melleray Abbey campus.
The caption accompanying the video states that the university’s new programme will start accepting students this autumn and is for those looking for "academic excellence, breathtaking adventure, or a deeper connection to your Catholic faith".
The Department of Further and Higher Education has been contacted for comment.
One of the country’s best known Cistercian abbeys, Mount Melleray in west Waterford closed in January 2025.
After almost two centuries in existence, the Cistercian Order in Ireland said it made the difficult decision owing to falling numbers and an ageing community.
Tuition fees for current undergraduate students attending Ave Maria University in Florida are over $31,000 for the academic year.
The Ave Maria university has been contacted for comment about its plans, which were first reported by WLR (Waterford Local Radio).
However, an official statement confirming the move is not expected to be issued until later in the week.
