A book which traces the history of further education in Ireland from the early 17th Century to the present day has been launched at Maynooth University in the presence of the Taoiseach, the Prime Minister of Ireland and the President of the University.
This book draws on historical archival research to tell the story of the development of the further education and training (FET) sector in Ireland over three centuries. Further Education had its roots in civil society organisations in the eighteenth century when talks were organised by the Dublin Society to improve husbandry, manufacture, the arts, and the sciences.
This book documents its evolution from this initial growth as a part-time system, organised by civil society organisations to around 1850, to a much greater involvement by the state that laid the foundation of a national FET system established by the Free State in Ireland. The book tracks how FET developed into complex institutional arrangements, shaped by the socio-political impulses and economic aspirations of the emergent state from protectionist policies to outward looking policies in the later 1960s that led to an expanded vision of education’s role, especially following membership of the European Union (EU). It traces how FET manages the tensions between social inclusion commitments and a labour-market driven orientation that became increasing apparent in following decades, arguing that FET should retain its commitment and vision to personal empowerment, community building and social development, which should always be at the heart of its educational vision.
Luke Murtagh & Rob Mark, A History of Further Education and Training in Ireland
MACE Press Maynooth University; Ireland ISBN 978-0-9568411-4-8 Published 2026 The book can be purchased on this link: A History of Further Education and Training in Ireland . An e-copy will be made available from the Department of Adult & Community Maynooth University in due course.
Rob Mark was formerly PASCAL Learning Cities Coordinator (2016-2026). The late Luke Murtagh was an Irish educator who made a lifelong contribution to the broad field of education and lifelong learning.