Ave Maria University to Expand to Former Mount Melleray Abbey

Waterford Abbey to Become Outpost for Florida-Based Catholic University

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 – Mount Melleray Abbey in County Waterford, Ireland, is set to become a campus for Ave Maria University, a Catholic university based in Florida, beginning in Autumn 2026.

The plan, announced via a video posted on Ave Maria University’s YouTube channel, aims to provide students with “academic excellence, breathtaking adventure, or a deeper connection to your Catholic faith” in Ireland, according to the university.

Mount Melleray Abbey closed in January 2025 as the last remaining monks relocated to Roscrea. The abbey, a former Cistercian monastery in Cappoquin, is now owned by the ‘Mount Melleray Abbey Trust’.

Ave Maria University, founded in 2007 by Thomas Monaghan – also the founder of Domino’s Pizza and former owner of the Detroit Tigers – describes itself as a Newman Guide Catholic University. The university seeks to provide academic learning “through the lens of the Catholic faith.”

According to the university’s website, its academic programs are “designed to foster a love of learning and a deep appreciation for the pursuit of truth,” integrating the tenets of the Catholic faith across disciplines like biology, psychology, and finance.

Discussions between the Cistercians and Ave Maria University began in August 2025, with the Cistercians confirming they were in talks with a “like-minded community” according to The Irish Catholic.

The move comes as Ave Maria University seeks to expand its reach and offer students a unique educational experience abroad. Tuition fees for undergraduate students at the university’s Florida campus currently exceed $31,000 per academic year.

The Department of Further and Higher Education has been contacted for comment.