Thirty-six men aged from 18 to their mid-40s will begin studying for the priesthood for Irish dioceses this year.
Some 26 will be based at the national seminary of St Patrick's College, Maynooth; seven will study at St Malachy's College, Belfast; two will study at the Beda College in Rome and one candidate will take a pre-seminary "discernment" year in Valladolid, Spain.
Seven seminarians have also transferred from Scotland to Maynooth to complete their studies, following the closure of Scotus College in Glasgow.
President of the St Patrick's College, Monsignor Hugh Connolly, said it was "truly wonderful" to witness the generosity of spirit of the new seminarians.
The Church in Ireland had just completed a 'Year of Vocation' and now begins a "Year for Priests", he said.
There will be 77 seminarians in Maynooth at the end of September.