The Dominican College in Newbridge was founded in 1852 by Fr Dominic Walker and Fr Nicholas Freyne, who established the College as a result of the high and increasing demand for secondary Catholic education owing to Catholic emancipation in Ireland at the time. In its first year of establishment, Newbridge College had an enrolment of 50 students. A cap was placed on the number of pupils enrolled. In 1870 the second church on the grounds was built. The restriction was lifted in 1894 and the roll grew to 100 students.