Luke Wadding

Fr Luke Wadding was a prominent Irish Franciscan priest and the founder of St Isidore’s College in Rome, which has served as a landmark for Irish Catholics for over 400 years. Born in Waterford, he took significant steps to establish a seminary for exiled Irish clergy during a time of severe persecution of Catholics in Ireland. Wadding transformed St Isidore’s into a center for the training of Irish Franciscan priests and played a crucial role in promoting the feast of St Patrick globally. His dedication to Irish identity in the college is reflected in its architectural and artistic elements, including frescoes of Irish saints. Wadding served as rector for 30 years and was also recognized as Ireland's first accredited ambassador in Rome.