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 became academically linked to the University of Limerick in 1991. The college has approximately 3,500 students and 300 staff. It is located on South Circular Road. The College was established as a dedicated primary teacher training college in 1898 by Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, Roman Catholic Bishop of Limerick. From 1974 to 1991 Mary Immaculate College was a recognised college of the National University of Ireland; since 1991, degrees have been accredited by the University of Limerick. The role of the College was expanded in 1992 to offer a Liberal Arts programme, while continuing to run both undergraduate and, more recently, postgraduate courses leading to primary education practice. The college also offers an Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) degree. The College's flagship programme is the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) with an intake of approximately 400 per year. The output of qualified primary teachers over a three year period is approximately 1500, from a combination of the three year B.Ed. programme and the Grad.