About us

What is Ely?

Ely University Centre is a student hall of residence for male students which provides full-board accommodation during term time plus a wide range of cultural, educational and sporting activities in a friendly atmosphere.

Ely organises activities for students to introduce them to the challenges of our times and which foster a sense of responsibility in the use of time, talents and resources. An emphasis is placed on character development, not only academic achievement.

Atmosphere

Ely offers a ‘home away from home’ for students. At Ely, a spirit of service to others and a family atmosphere is fostered. With this in mind all residents help in maintaining the centre.

Students of all creeds and nationalities are welcome to come and stay in Ely, and as a result, the centre cultivates a rich universal outlook, respecting all peoples and cultures.

More than just a University Residence

As well as providing a home from home for students from outside Dublin, we also organise activities throughout the year for many Dublin students and other students from around the country staying elsewhere in Dublin. They are designed to complement university studies, not distract from them, and to help students develop a responsible concern for society and see their future professional life as a way to serve society. Students are encouraged to help organise these activities as well as attend them.

Activities include:

  • Good quality study facilities
  • Courses designed to improve study and professional knowledge
  • Social projects/workcamps which foster awareness of society’s needs
  • Regular cultural activities such as get-togethers with special guests, the Book Club, the Writers’ Club, the Medical Seminar and a range of other activities.
  • Christian formation given in talks, seminars, doctrinal classes for those who would like to attend them.

Ely and Opus Dei

Spiritual and doctrinal activities are entrusted to Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church. The centre has a small chapel, and a resident chaplain, who is a priest of Opus Dei.

Responsibility for spiritual and doctrinal formation offered in Ely is entrusted to Opus Dei, a personal Prelature of the Catholic Church founded in 1928 by St Josemaría Escrivá. Opus Dei only undertakes to guarantee the Christian orientation of all of the activities run in Ely. Responsibility for all other matters (organisational, legal, technical, financial etc) lies with those who direct the centre.

This living of the spirit of Opus Dei in the centre is clear in many aspects: an emphasis on the importance of study and work well done, on the development of human and Christian virtues and a spirit of service towards others, the central place of the oratory in the life of the centre, an insistence on the respect for the freedom of all, the care of little material details etc.

The director of Ely, and some of the people living there, are members of Opus Dei. Many of the others involved in activities are not members, and give their time and energy because they are fully supportive of the formation being provided. Opus Dei provides a priest as chaplain to the centre, who reports to its managing committee.

Other useful links

Opus Dei & St Josemaria Escrivá:

Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Its mission is to spread the message that work and the circumstances of everyday life are occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society.

Other residences in Ireland:

Dublin

Galway

Limerick

  • Overdale Study Centre: residence for female students
  • Castleville Study Centre: residence for male students in Castletroy

Youth Clubs:

Permanent link to this article: http://www.elyuc.com/about/