| What is Ely? | ||
| History | ||
| Location & Access |
During term, Ely University Centre provides accommodation for young men attending university in Dublin. Our facilities and activities are also open to non-resident university students and graduates who have already started to work. During the summer we organise residential language courses for foreign students. At all times, Ely is home to five or six members of Opus Dei, one of whom is a priest, who contribute with their salaries and initiative to the services provided by Ely. The housekeeping is contracted out to a dedicated non-residential staff. It is our experience that all these permanent elements combine to provide young students with a stable atmosphere where their various talents can flourish, sometimes by playing an active part in the organisation of the cultural and educational activities of the centre, or by providing a base from which they can develop their own interests. Ely is open to people of all creeds and backgrounds. Ely University Centre is non profit-making. Naturally, it aims to break even. It is owned by a charitable company limited by guarantee.
Ely University Centre owes its inspiration to Opus Dei which is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church. Members of Opus Dei are laypeople, ordinary men and women dedicated to living Christian lives and to putting Christian principles to work in the world. The Founder of Opus Dei, Saint Josemaría Escrivá encouraged members of Opus Dei to set up educational initiatives to try and meet the local needs of their country. Ely was established as an educational centre by Henry Cavanna and other members of Opus Dei in 1957. Saint Josemaría visited the house in August 1959. Initially, Ely operated only from 9 Hume Street. In 1988, 10 Hume Street was bought to provide more space and additional accommodation.
Ely is located in the area marked blue on the map below.
Ely is within is within walking distance of Trinity College Dublin (TCD). The medical faculty of University College Dublin (UCD) is close-by at Earlsfort Terrace. The No. 10 bus to the Belfield Campus of UCD is around the corner at Merrion Row. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is located at St. Stephen's Green West.
BUS
The bus terminal (Busarus) is located close to the river Liffey within walking distance of Ely.
AIRPORT