Clarin College
Athenry, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 1,140 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 533 girls, 607 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 71270G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Clarin College is a co-educational, multi-denominational community college in Athenry, Co. Galway, under the patronage of the Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB). Enrolment is approximately 1,140 students. The school offers the Junior Cycle, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP). First-year students take a taster programme and choose two option subjects at the end of the year. Classes run for one hour. The school also provides additional and special educational needs support, guidance and counselling, and a digital learning framework. Extra-curricular activity includes art club, Gaisce, school musicals, and a range of sports. The school describes itself as inclusive in both intake and curriculum.
History
Athenry Vocational School was established on 4 September 1968 with 99 students: 68 boys and 24 girls in first year, plus 7 students from a pre-existing post-primary school in Abbeyknockmoy. The original buildings were two prefabricated structures housing woodwork, home economics and general-purpose rooms. As numbers grew, students were accommodated in the Hotel Training School. The first state examinations were taken in June 1969, when four students sat the Intermediate Certificate. The first Leaving Certificate was completed in 1972. A new building opened in May 1973, with extensions in 1991, 1992, and a gym and canteen in 1998. The school later became known as Gairmscoil Mhuire and then Clarin College following the amalgamation of the Galway and Roscommon Vocational Educational Committees into GRETB.
Applying to Clarin College
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 Clarin College. 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 Clarin College
How many pupils attend Clarin College?
Clarin College has 1,140 pupils enrolled, 533 girls and 607 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Clarin College a DEIS school?
No. Clarin College 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 Clarin College?
Clarin College has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.