St. Malachy's College is the oldest Catholic school in Ulster and one of the oldest in Ireland. It was founded in 1833 by Bishop Crolly , after the repeal of the Penal Laws which had outlawed among other things the celebration of Catholic Mass and the provision of education for Catholics in Ireland.

To this day it remains the seminary for the diocese of Down and Connor and is still an "all-boys" school, providing education for 1200 students aged 11-18. The College continues to encourage the study of the elements of classical education, with a strong emphasis on Latin, Classical Civilisation and Ancient and Modern History.

Situated just North of Belfast city centre it is one of the leading schools in Northern Ireland. Notable graduates include the novelists Bernard MacLaverty, Michael MacLaverty , and Brian Moore, and Celtic soccer manager Martin O'Neill. Students of the College have traditionally gone on to join the professional occupations, providing a sizeable percentage of Belfast's legal, educational and medical establishments.

The College today boasts impressive records in both GCSE and A-level examinations, and has had many recent sporting successes, especially in athletics and basketball.