The Cistercian Order in Ireland has confirmed that discussions with Ave Maria University for it to open a new campus in Co Waterford are at an "advanced stage", although the Department of Further and Higher Education has said it has not received any communications regarding it.
The order has also confirmed that the board of the US-based Catholic university has approved the proposed "educational and formation initiative" at Mount Melleray.
In a video seen on the university's YouTube page earlier in the week, but which was later changed to private, Ave Maria claimed it was planning to open a new campus for students at the former Cistercian monastery of Mount Melleray near Cappoquin.
In a statement issued this afternoon, a spokesperson for the Cistercian Order in Ireland confirmed the plans but said a number of formal steps still had to be completed.
They said: "The Cistercian community at Our Lady of Silence Abbey and Ave Maria University can confirm that discussions regarding a proposed educational and formation initiative at Mount Melleray have reached an advanced stage, following approval by the university's board.
"A number of formal steps remain to be completed. For that reason, no final public announcement has yet been made."
The spokesperson also went on to say: "The abbey and the university are committed to ensuring that any future development fully respects the abbey's spiritual character, the life of prayer, and the local community.
"Further information will be shared in due course once the remaining processes are complete," they added.
No communication to department
Meanwhile, the Department of Further and Higher Education has said it has not received any communications to date regarding the establishment of Ave Maria University in Ireland.
A spokesperson said: "It is open to education institutions based in other jurisdictions to explore the development of campuses in Ireland.
"However, it should be noted that under Irish law, the use of the title 'university' is protected.
"The Universities Act 1997 provides that the term "university", when used to describe an educational establishment or facility, may only be used with the approval of the Minister.
"This provision is intended to ensure that the public can clearly distinguish between State‑regulated universities and other providers that are not subject to the same regulatory framework," the spokesperson for the department added.
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.
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.
Tuition fees for current undergraduate students attending Ave Maria University in Florida are over $31,000 for the academic year.
