Mary Immaculate College (Irish: Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál), also known as Mary I or MIC, is a College of Education and Liberal Arts, founded in 1898. It is located on South Circular Road in Limerick, Ireland. It became academically linked to the University of Limerick in 1991 and all degrees, certificates and other educational awards offered at the college are accredited by the university.The college has approximately 3,500 students and 300 staff. The College was established as a dedicated primary teacher training college in 1898 by Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, Roman Catholic Bishop of Limerick and the Sisters of Mercy. Its foundation stone was laid on 8 December 1898 and the college officially opened in 1902, accepting in female students from Munster.In 1969, the college accepted male students for the first time. From 1974 to 1991, Mary Immaculate College was a recognised college of the National University of Ireland. 1974 saw the commencement of the B.Ed. degree with first graduates in 1977 (the course was previously a two-year National Teachers Diploma).Since 1991, degrees have been accredited by the University of Limerick.