In 1866 the university considered examining and conferring degrees on students other than those of the Queen's colleges, such as the Catholic Carlow College[REF] the St. Patricks College Carlow Report[REF] was conducted and the college was deemed to meet the suitable, however it was never enacted [REF].
A number of significant figures in Irish public life participated in the governing senate of the university such as Sir Dominic Corrigan (Vice-Chancellor).