Blackwater Community School
Lismore, Waterford
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 943 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 478 girls, 465 boys
- Ethos
- Inter Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 91509E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Blackwater Community School (BCS) in Lismore, County Waterford is a co‑educational secondary school formed from the amalgamation of Lismore CBS, the Presentation Convent and St Anne’s Secondary School, Cappoquin. The school serves a diverse student body of 951 pupils (as of 2023/24) and delivers a broad, balanced curriculum that aims to develop academic, physical, emotional and spiritual potential. Its mission stresses a safe, caring community where learners are encouraged to build self‑belief, engage with local and wider society and benefit from a welcoming atmosphere for parents and the wider community. The campus has been expanded dramatically since its opening in 2003. Recent developments include a new two‑storey building with modern classrooms, practical‑subject facilities and office space, a staff car‑park, two astro‑turf pitches and a refurbished PE hall. Earlier extensions added six additional classrooms and incorporated the County Library and Council offices into the school grounds. BCS also provides extensive digital resources such as VSware, Office 365, Microsoft Teams and a dedicated school app, supporting both learning and extra‑curricular activities ranging from badminton and basketball to Model United Nations and cross‑country events.
History
Blackwater Community School opened in September 2003 as an amalgamation of Lismore CBS, Presentation Convent Lismore and St Anne’s Secondary School, Cappoquin, built on a greenfield site with an initial enrolment of 400 pupils. Between 2003 and 2015 a six‑classroom extension was added and the County Library and County Council offices were incorporated into the campus. In November 2022 phase one of a major building programme was completed, delivering a new two‑storey block, additional classrooms, practical‑subject rooms, office space, a staff car‑park, two astro‑turf pitches and upgrades to the PE hall. Phase two is underway and is scheduled for completion in the 2024‑2025 school year, bringing the campus to a state‑of‑the‑art education centre for the current roll of 951 students.
Applying to Blackwater 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Blackwater Community School. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- 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 Blackwater Community School
How many pupils attend Blackwater Community School?
Blackwater Community School has 943 pupils enrolled, 478 girls and 465 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Blackwater Community School a DEIS school?
No. Blackwater 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 Blackwater Community School?
Blackwater Community School has an Inter Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.