Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed
Thurles, Tipperary
Key facts
- DEIS
- Some Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 601 about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 183 girls, 418 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- Some pupils taught all subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 72490C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Coláiste Mhuire Co‑Ed is a co‑educational vocational secondary school situated in the leafy environs of Castlemeadows, Thurles, close to the iconic Semple Stadium. The school delivers both Junior and Leaving Certificate programmes, blending traditional academic subjects with a strong emphasis on practical and technical education. A forward‑looking curriculum includes subjects such as Home Economics, Media Literacy, Computer Science (including a pioneering Junior Cycle Student Awards Short Course in Programming and Coding) and a range of engineering and business courses. The school is proud of its Digital Schools Award, reflecting a commitment to equipping learners with the digital skills required for the modern workplace. Wellbeing and pastoral care are central to the school’s ethos, with a comprehensive support system that offers personalised academic tracking, targeted literacy and numeracy programmes, and a dedicated study‑support framework. Facilities have been modernised in recent years, featuring a new canteen, a state‑of‑the‑art gymnasium known as “the Dome” (a joint venture with the GAA), and extensive ICT resources such as Chromebooks and G Suite for Education. As a participant in the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) scheme, the school strives to provide an inclusive learning community where every student can thrive. The school’s motto, *Rath as Saothar* – “Success through Effort” – underpins a culture that celebrates achievement, community, respect and equality. Through a seamless transition programme, Coláiste Mhuire welcomes students from a variety of primary schools, ensuring a smooth entry into secondary education and fostering a supportive environment for both academic and personal growth.
History
Coláiste Mhuire was established in 1928 as a vocational school in Thurles, becoming the sole technical school in North Tipperary when the VEC was formed in 1930. Initially linked to the local sugar factory, the curriculum expanded in the 1950s to include farriery, welding and rural engineering, with a refurbishment of the original premises. By the early 1960s the school accommodated both boys and girls, and further growth led to the addition of prefabricated classrooms in 1965. Night‑class provision began in the 1950s, offering diplomas in social studies, mathematics, food hygiene, science and later work study and management. Following the retirement of Headmaster John O’ Mahoney in 1971, Seamus Maher oversaw the school’s transition to offering Intermediate and Leaving Certificate courses. Overcrowding prompted a new building, opened in autumn 1981 at Castlemeadows, costing £1.25 million. The 1980s saw enrolments rise to over 400 day students, the introduction of a business administration course, and continued night‑class outreach. In 1998 a dedicated Irish‑medium unit, Gaelcholáiste na Siúire, was created, operating until 2012. Fiona O Sullivan became principal in 1999; the school’s canteen and gymnasium (the Dome) were opened in 2007/08, and the institution was officially renamed Coláiste Mhuire in 2009. In September 2024 the PLC College was slated to relocate.
Applying to Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed
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 Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed. 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 Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed
How many pupils attend Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed?
Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed has 601 pupils enrolled, 183 girls and 418 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed a DEIS school?
Yes. Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
Does Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed teach through Irish?
Partly. Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed teaches some subjects through Irish.