“Normally you would have had graduation ceremonies and Masses, and I know how much you miss not having those important moments in your school life. This has been an extraordinary year and a particularly extraordinary couple of months,” said Bishop Denis Nulty.

Deal will see increased co-operation including the exchange of students and staff, the awarding of joint degrees, ICP ecclesiastical degrees, joint summer schools and research collaboration.

First cohort of Cork-based Respond! students looking forward to careers as qualified carers having graduated with a Healthcare Support Certificate.

Since 2008, 340 religion teachers have graduated from St Patrick's College which up to 1992 served as a seminary for the training of priests.