Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School
Longford
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 579 about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 269 girls, 310 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63730S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School is a voluntary Catholic secondary school in Granard, operating under the trusteeship of CEIST (Catholic Education an Irish Schools Trust). The school’s ethos is explicitly Christian and holistic, seeking to respect the dignity of each pupil regardless of background, ability, tradition or belief, with particular attention to the disadvantaged. Its educational approach combines a secure, disciplined atmosphere with positive affirmation, encouraging self‑confidence, self‑discipline and responsible citizenship. Academic provision covers the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Senior Cycle, and the curriculum is complemented by a strong emphasis on sport, drama, music and the proactive use of technology. The campus has developed significantly since its foundation, featuring a 20‑classroom block (built 1970), a two‑storey block with specialist rooms and a sportshall (added 1983), and modern facilities that support a wide range of co‑curricular activities. With approximately 449 students and 40 staff members, the school serves a nine‑mile catchment around Granard, offering a supportive community where pupils are encouraged to achieve their full academic and personal potential.
History
Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School was founded in 1947 by the Sisters of Mercy as a girls’ boarding school. Boarders were accommodated until 1987. In 1959 the school became co‑educational with the enrolment of 12 boys. The introduction of free education in 1968 prompted rapid growth, leading to the construction of a 20‑classroom block in 1970 and a two‑storey block with specialist rooms and a sportshall in 1983. A Board of Management replaced the former religious management in 1987, and the first lay principal was appointed in 1996. In 2006 the school joined the CEIST trust, which remains its trustee today. The catchment area covers a nine‑mile radius around Granard, and the school now serves 449 pupils with a staff of 40.
Applying to Cnoc Mhuire Secondary 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 Cnoc Mhuire Secondary 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 Cnoc Mhuire Secondary 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 Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School
How many pupils attend Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School?
Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School has 579 pupils enrolled, 269 girls and 310 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. Cnoc Mhuire Secondary 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 Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School?
Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by Eric Jones. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 2.0.