Maynooth University formally launches new School of Nursing
Ireland’s first new university nursing school in two decades, advancing community-based care under Sláintecare
Friday, 24 October 2025: Maynooth University has officially launched its new School of Nursing, marking a significant development for both the University and Irish healthcare.
The new School represents a major contribution to the Government’s Sláintecare vision for community-based care and to the future of healthcare education in Ireland.
Maynooth University’sBSc in General Nursing welcomed its first students in September, following full approval by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) during the summer.
Established by Professor Fintan Sheerin with colleagues Dr Adeline Cooney,Dr Myles Hackett and Emma Guyatt, the programme reflects the recommendations of last year’s Expert Review of Nursing and Midwifery Curriculum, giving MU an early lead in implementing a new national model for nursing education.
Delivered in partnership with the HSE Dublin and Midlands Region, the programme incorporates inclusive pathways and flexible progression routes to enable learners from diverse backgrounds – including mature and further-education entrants – to enter, advance and specialise in nursing. The curriculum reflects the national shift toward community-based models of care, preparing graduates for roles across integrated care hubs, minor injury units, and community settings.
The launch event took place in Maynooth University last Friday and was officially opened by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, who said:
“This is a proud moment for Maynooth University and for Irish healthcare. The launch of the School of Nursing is more than an academic achievement; it is a strategic investment in the future of care. By training nurses in the heart of the community and opening doors to learners from all backgrounds, Maynooth is helping build a more inclusive and resilient healthcare workforce for the future. This is how we deliver on the promise of Sláintecare. I wish every student beginning their journey here the very best. Your work will shape the future of care in communities across Ireland.”
Commenting on the launch, MU President, Prof Eeva Leinonen said:
“When we launched our Strategic Plan in 2023, we made a commitment to launch a new School of Nursing at Maynooth University and today it is a reality. This School represents not just a new academic unit, but the foundation for a broader School of Health and Medicine – a new way of preparing healthcare leaders of the future, grounded in compassion, scientific rigour, digital innovation, and community partnership.”
Speaking at the event, Prof Fintan Sheerin, Founding Head of the School of Nursing said:
“Our programme places community and primary care at the centre of nurse education. Rather than training solely for hospital settings, we are preparing graduates to support health and wellbeing where people live — in homes, clinics and community care hubs. Compassionate caring will be blended with digital health, and students will learn in Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratories that mirror real-world environments from their first weeks on campus.”
The event also featured a keynote address by Michael J. Dowling, CEO Emeritus of Northwell Health, highlighting the strategic affiliation agreement between Maynooth University and Northwell Health announced last year to advance innovation in nursing education.
A panel discussion followed, featuring Rachel Kenna, Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health; Carolyn Donohoe, CEO of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; and Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer of the HSE Dublin and Midlands Region.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Michael J. Dowling, said:
“Maynooth University’s new School of Nursing represents the kind of innovation healthcare needs — combining academic excellence with a real understanding of how care is delivered in the community. By training nurses to work across settings, to use data intelligently, and to lead with compassion, the University is helping shape a model of healthcare education that others will follow.”
Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and Midlands Region, added:
“This launch marks an important milestone in advancing Sláintecare and strengthening healthcare delivery across the region. By training nurses locally and aligning education with service delivery, we’re building a sustainable workforce ready to deliver high-quality, person-centred care closer to home.”
Welcoming the new school, Chief Nursing Officer Rachel Kenna said:
“This initiative represents a welcome step forward in the future of our health workforce, health and social care services and patient care. I would like to acknowledge the future focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and digital health in the nursing curriculum at Maynooth University. This is the foundation the future of the nursing profession needs as they continue to lead on the design and delivery of integrated healthcare for patients right across the system.”
The School of Nursing is based in the Eolas Building and will expand in the years ahead to include postgraduate programmes, research and innovation. The first intake of 27 students began the BSc in General Nursing in September, with numbers due to rise to 100 within four years to meet national demand for nursing education aligned with Sláintecare.
About Maynooth University
One of four constituent universities of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth University in 2024 ranked in the top 90 global Times Higher Education (THE) Young Universities, placing 86th in the world. Tracing its origins to the foundation of the Royal College of St Patrick in 1795, Maynooth University was formally established as an autonomous university in 1997. Maynooth is one of Ireland’s fastest growing universities with more than 17,000 students, including almost 1,800 taught postgraduates and over 600 research postgraduates.
