Newman’s Idea of a University

Newman’s journey to Dublin began with an invitation in 1851 from Archbishop Cullen of Armagh – shortly afterwards to become Archbishop of Dublin – to advise on the proposed establishment of a Catholic University. He also asked Newman if he ‘could spare time to give us a few lectures on education’. These ‘few lectures’ would form the Dublin Discourses and ultimately The Idea of a University. There was a total of nine discourses, five of which were delivered in Dublin.