Presently it has a student body of 4,500. NUI's grounds are very beautiful and spacious, and many buildings are of considerable historic and architectural interest. The chapel contains a magnificent rose stained glass window, a beautiful mural ceiling and intricate oak wood carvings. The university has a book shop, health center, computer room, swimming pool, many sports programs and clubs, and a number of eating facilities in the Cleric's refectory, The Old Canteen, the Students Union and the Sports Complex. The library has holdings of 250,000 books, journals, microfilm and AV titles.
Accommodations are available in university apartments and hostels.
Students also rent houses, apartments and flats, or live with a host family. The university enjoys a perfect setting in the rural village of Maynooth. Maynooth is a charming village with the ruins of the 13th century Maynooth Castle close to the university site. The castle was home to the Anglo-Norman Fitzgerald family who ruled County Kildare and most of Ireland until the arrival of the Tudor monarchs. Maynooth is only 15 miles southwest of Dublin and is easily reached by bus or train.