Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar
Westmeath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 873 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63270K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Coláiste Mhuire is a boys’ secondary school situated in the heart of Mullingar, directly opposite the Cathedral of Christ the King. As an Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) institution, the school’s ethos is grounded in the vision of Blessed Edmund Rice, promoting equality of access for children of any faith, ability, nationality or ethnic background. The curriculum is designed to be well‑rounded and holistic, placing each pupil at the centre of every decision and fostering academic excellence alongside personal development, social justice and environmental stewardship. The school offers a broad range of facilities to support both learning and extra‑curricular interests. Modern classrooms and a state‑of‑the‑art technology room (opened 2005) complement specialist science labs, while a sports gym (built 1980) underpins a strong sporting tradition that includes Gaelic games. A variety of clubs, societies and an autism‑specific class demonstrate the school’s commitment to inclusive, personalised education and to providing a happy, engaging school experience for all students.
History
Coláiste Mhuire opened on 20 October 1856 as the Hevey Institute, founded through the bequest of local brewer James Hevey. Initially comprising a Classical School (Latin and Greek) and a school for poor parish children, it quickly grew to 400 pupils by the 1860s. Over the years the institute was expanded and restored: a primary school was added in 1959, a new secondary building opened in 1972, a sports gym in 1980, and a €3 million extension with a technology room in 2003‑2005. The Christian Brothers departed in 2005, after which the historic building underwent a comprehensive refurbishment in 2008, preserving its original architectural features while modernising the facilities.
Applying to Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar
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 Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar. 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 Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar
How many pupils attend Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar?
Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar has 873 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar a DEIS school?
No. Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar 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 Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar?
Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.