“IMAGINE COMING OVER the hill and encountering it – the hallmarks of Ave Maria University, the joy, the search for truth, the campus community, vividly expressed in our new campus across the Atlantic.”

That is how a private Catholic university based in the United States is describing plans for a new campus at the former Mount Melleray Abbey in Co Waterford.

Ave Maria University, which is located in Florida, says it intends to establish a campus at the historic Cistercian monastery near Cappoquin, according to a promotional video posted on the university’s website.

The video also references the “rich Catholic and cultural heritage of Europe, of Ireland.” 

The video, first reported on by WLR, describes the proposed Mount Melleray site as part of an international programme offering students “academic excellence, adventure, and a deeper connection to Catholic faith”, with applications due to open later this year.

A logo for the campus featured in the Ave Maria video. Ave Maria University Ave Maria University

Mount Melleray Abbey closed in January 2025 after almost 200 years, with the Cistercian Order citing falling numbers and an ageing monastic community.

At the time, the Order said it was exploring future uses for the site that would preserve its spiritual and educational character.

In a statement in August, the Order stated that they had “begun discussions with a like-minded community, united in faith and purpose, who may be able to continue the care of Mount Melleray”.

“If these talks progress well, they will tend this sacred place with devotion, ensuring that its tradition of prayer, welcome, peace, and study remains at the heart of its life,” the statement continued.

It is not yet known if this statement was referring to Ave Maria University.

Founded by Domino’s Pizza founder and billionaire Thomas Monaghan, Ave Maria University describes its mission as promoting Catholic higher education rooted in church teaching.

Undergraduate tuition fees at its main Florida campus exceed $31,000 (€26,000) per academic year, not including accommodation costs.

The Cistercian Order and Ave Maria University have been contacted for comment.