The President at the time, Lawrence Renehan decided to renovate and expand the colleges library facilities, and opted for the reputed talents of Pugin to realize his vision.

The final design included popular contemporary features such as high Gothic windows and an open timbered roof.

The library initially served St Patrick's College Maynooth, a seminary for the education of priests, founded in 1795.

[7] Maynooth University hosted an exhibition at the Russell library on 18 April 2018, to commemorate the centenary of a protest against compulsory conscription during the second world war.

Thomas White from Tipperary, Ireland, by royal decree of King Phillip the second, who also provided initial financial support for the students who attended the college.

In 1608 the Irish college was incorporated into the University of Salamanca, and was subsequently administered by the Society of Jesus until their expulsion from Spain in 1767 by King Charles III.

At their height, Irish colleges on the continent numbered 480 students, across twelve locations, most of whom were based in France or the Austrian Netherlands.

[14] They display a large range of controversial yet topical issues: political satire, writers reacting to government policy, parliamentary speeches, charity sermons, comic operas, associations for developing as a society, developments in agriculture, inventions, military expedition accounts, medical theories, art exhibitions and finally court cases.