Athlone Institute of Technology

The institution was established by the Irish Government in 1970 as Athlone Regional Technical College under control of the local Vocational Education Committee. In 1975 the College acquired an Art Collection. The College gained more autonomy with the enactment of the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992. In late 1997, as with the other RTC's it was renamed the Athlone, Institute of Technology. In 1999 AIT became a validation authority with the power to award HETAC degrees. In 2000, Prof. Ciarán Ó Catháin was appointed President of AIT. Dr David Fenton and James Coyle, were previous holders of the post of head of the College, previously called Director and Principal before that. In 2001 a School of Humanities was opened. In 2010 President of Ireland Mary McAleese spoke at the fortieth anniversary of the College.