Bailieborough Community School
Cavan
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 754 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 342 girls, 412 boys
- Ethos
- Inter Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 91351S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Bailieborough Community School, located on Virginia Road in Bailieborough, provides an inclusive learning environment where every pupil is encouraged to develop and fulfil their unique potential. The school’s ethos centres on generating a supportive climate of learning, offering a broad curriculum that caters to a wide range of abilities and interests. Academic programmes are complemented by a diverse selection of extracurricular activities, enabling students to grow beyond the classroom through sport, music, drama and community projects. Modern facilities support a full spectrum of subjects, and the school places a strong emphasis on personal development and lifelong skills. With a commitment to welcoming students from all socio‑economic backgrounds, the school’s admissions policy promotes equality of opportunity. Parents and the wider community are actively involved, reinforcing the school’s role as a hub for education, cultural enrichment and personal growth within the region.
History
Bailieborough Community School opened its doors in September 1981 and was formally inaugurated on 8 November 1982 by Mr John Wilson T.D., then Minister for Cavan. The school resulted from the amalgamation of Bailieborough Vocational School (established in the 1930s by the VEC) and Lourdesville Secondary School (founded in 1965 by the Presentation Sisters), bringing together two respected educational traditions under a single community school framework. Governed by a Board of Management representing religious authorities, the VEC, parents and teachers, the school has served Bailieborough and surrounding towns such as Shercock and Kingscourt, offering a full range of subjects and modern facilities to generations of learners.
Applying to Bailieborough Community School
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
View Bailieborough Community School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Bailieborough Community School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (primary schools: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about Bailieborough Community School
How many pupils attend Bailieborough Community School?
Bailieborough Community School has 754 pupils enrolled, 342 girls and 412 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Bailieborough Community School a DEIS school?
No. Bailieborough Community School is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of Bailieborough Community School?
Bailieborough Community School has an Inter Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.