Ballincollig Community School
Ballincollig, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 987 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 471 girls, 516 boys
- Ethos
- Inter Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 91386O the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballincollig Community School is a co‑educational secondary school that prides itself on a long‑standing tradition of academic excellence and a holistic approach to pupil development. The school delivers a comprehensive and versatile curriculum that caters to a wide range of aptitudes and interests, offering an extensive subject choice alongside a strong emphasis on personal wellbeing. Pastoral care is central to the school’s ethos, ensuring every student feels safe, supported and valued, which in turn underpins high achievement in state examinations. The campus features state‑of‑the‑art STEM facilities, including modern science laboratories, computer suites, engineering and drawing rooms, as well as exceptional sporting amenities such as a full‑size sports hall, fitness suite, all‑weather pitch, sand‑based playing field and basketball and tennis courts. Bright, spacious and adaptable classrooms provide an optimal learning environment, while dedicated spaces for art, music and technical graphics foster creativity and innovation. A vibrant extra‑curricular programme, ranging from debating and science competitions to a wide variety of sports, enriches the student experience and strengthens the school’s role as an integral part of the Ballincollig community for over four decades.
History
Ballincollig Community School opened on 14 September 1976 with 109 pupils and 10 teachers under the guidance of its first principal, Dan Murray. Since then the roll has grown to nearly 900 students and 65 staff members, with more than 5,000 pupils having attended the school. A major development occurred on 26 September 2003 when the Minister for Health and Children, Michael Martin, TD, officially opened a new school building equipped with modern facilities for current and future generations.
Applying to Ballincollig 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 Ballincollig 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 Ballincollig 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 Ballincollig Community School
How many pupils attend Ballincollig Community School?
Ballincollig Community School has 987 pupils enrolled, 471 girls and 516 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Ballincollig Community School a DEIS school?
No. Ballincollig 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 Ballincollig Community School?
Ballincollig Community School has an Inter Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.