Established by the Franciscan Brothers in 1904, the Mountbellew campus was the first agricultural college in Ireland.
Mountbellew is a quiet, but growing market town 45kms from Galway city on the N63 road to Roscommon. The original college was demolished in 1971 and later replaced with a new building in 1975. In 1986, the Franciscan Brothers Agricultural College established a link with GMIT to deliver a Higher Certificate in Business Studies (Agri-Business).
Today, ATU students in Mountbellew can choose between degrees in rural enterprise and agri-business, agri-engineering or agriculture and environmental management. They spend their time between the Mountbellew campus (one hour from Galway city) and the ATU Galway City campus.
Key industries
Agriculture, food production, and environmental management are some of Ireland’s key industries. ATU’s campus in Mountbellew, about 30 miles northeast of Galway City, offers degrees at Level 7 and Level 8.
Typically, students are based at ATU Mountbellew campus for the first two years, and attend ATU Galway City on selected days per week. Students then spend Years 3 and 4 at ATU Galway City.
Working Farm
Students learn on ATU Mountbellew’s 169 hectare working farm. Students benefit greatly from the practical experience gained on the farm which comprises of:
* Total area 169 ha
* 80+ cow dairy herd – pedigree Holstein
* Dry stock: 60 cow suckler herd, 60 unit calf to beef enterprise, sheep flock of 250 ewes
* 20 ha Forestry
* Milking parlour
* State-of-the-art grain store
* Sheep and cattle housing facilities
* Handling facilities
Find out more: Tel: +353 9096 79205; Email: Edna Curley