The Patrician College at Mountrath, and since 1930 at Ballyfin, is one of the oldest catholic colleges is Ireland. It was founded in 1810 by the Most Rev. Dr. Delaney, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, and during its long career has filled, with distinction, high positions in church and State both at home and abroad.

The College is situated in the midst of an extensive demesne, once the property of O’Moores of Laois. It was confiscated by the invades in Elizabeth’s reign and given as a reward "For Services Rendered" to an officer of the invading army. It was the property of Sir Henry Charles Coote whose predecessors came to Ireland with the Cromwellian Army. In 1928 it was purchased by the patrician Brothers to replace their college at Mountrath. A modern new wing was erected and alteration and extensions effected in order to make the entire building suitable for scholastic purposes. It was formally blessed and opened by the Most Rev. Dr. Cullen, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin on the 31st of August, 1930.