Coláiste Mhuire
Kilkenny
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 659 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 281 girls, 378 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 70600T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Coláiste Mhuire is a modern, co‑educational second‑level school situated in the rural north of County Kilkenny. It offers a non‑selective, comprehensive education that caters for the full ability range and welcomes pupils of all denominations. The curriculum follows the programme prescribed by the Minister for Education and Skills, with a strong emphasis on moral, spiritual, intellectual, social and personal development. Pastoral care is central to school life, with dedicated career guidance and counselling services that support students in academic and personal matters. The campus has been expanded repeatedly to meet growing demand. Recent developments include a dedicated ASD unit, a state‑of‑the‑art woodwork suite, additional classrooms, a weather‑proof pitch and an extended sports field. These facilities underpin a vibrant extracurricular programme, highlighted by successes in hurling, camogie, badminton, handball and basketball. Strong links with local enterprises, community organisations and night‑class provision further enrich the learning environment, while a restorative approach to behaviour promotes a safe, respectful and supportive atmosphere for all learners.
History
Johnstown Vocational School opened in 1952 with three specialised classrooms. Over the following decades the school expanded its curriculum and enrolment, achieving national recognition for its garden in 1978‑79. A new purpose‑built campus was completed in 1995 for 300 pupils, followed by further extensions in 2003, a weather‑proof pitch in 2009 and two new wings in 2019 – one housing an ASD unit and the other adding a modern woodwork room and four classrooms. Today the school serves around 600 students from Kilkenny, Laois and Tipperary and continues to build on its strong sporting and community traditions.
Applying to Coláiste Mhuire
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 Coláiste Mhuire. 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 Coláiste Mhuire
How many pupils attend Coláiste Mhuire?
Coláiste Mhuire has 659 pupils enrolled, 281 girls and 378 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Coláiste Mhuire a DEIS school?
Yes. Coláiste Mhuire 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.
What is the ethos of Coláiste Mhuire?
Coláiste Mhuire has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.