St Kieran's College was founded in Kilkenny, in the diocese of Ossory in 1782,[1] after the passing of the Catholic Relief Act of 1782.

This act enabled Catholics to found schools (with the consent of the Protestant bishop of the diocese) for the first time since the Irish penal laws were introduced.

The school's motto is "Hiems Transiit", Latin for "The winter has passed", It is a metaphor for the repeal of the penal laws which had kept Catholics as second class citizens in Ireland.

It is taken from chapter 3:17 verse 11 of the Song of Solomon book of the Bible: "My beloved speaks and says to me: Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.

It was later moved to the present location of the Loreto Convent Girls' Secondary School, Granges Road, Kilkenny.

The College was at Birchfield, St Patrick's civil parish, Barony of Shillelogher, until 1838 when the estate was bought by the Smithwick family.

The college chapel contains some stained glass windows designed by Harry Clarke which have recently undergone restoration.

[citation needed] The College is the base for the diocesan adult religious education and faith formation office.

This office works with parishes and diocesan groups to help facilitate education in the faith for people of the diocese.

In association with the Catholic Diocese of Ossory, 2011 saw the commencement of a Certificate in Theological Studies (Level 7)[5] accredited by St Patrick's College, Maynooth.

This initiative offered students a chance to commence their studies locally, before transferring to the main campus in Maynooth for second and third year.

[16] Glanbia, one of the world’s top nutrition companies with revenues of over €3.5 billion and 5,815 employees,[17] was originally formed by local farmers through the amalgamation of small rural co-operative Creamery societies from Kilkenny and some neighbouring counties, when together with Unigate Limited support they formed the Avonmore Creameries Federation.

[18] Realising the benefits of increased scale and greater diversification in the 1960s, they saw the need for an amalgamation of many small, locally focused co-operatives across Ireland.

It appears on Episcopal arms from the 18th century and on a beautiful book plate of Archbishop Troy as well as the college crest.

Thomas MacDonagh, an Easter Rising leader, was a teacher at the school (1901–03), as was the pacifist Francis Sheehy Skeffington (1900–01).

[citation needed] Notable students to have attended the school include: Maudlin St & Birchfield Burrell's Hall Present buildings