Colaiste Muire
Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 523 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 271 girls, 252 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 62200H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Coláiste Muire Réalt na Mara, Crosshaven is a co‑educational Catholic voluntary secondary school operating under the trusteeship of CEIST. The school delivers a holistic education that balances academic rigour with creative, spiritual and physical development, all within a caring and safe environment. Emphasising the core values of respect, kindness, hard work, responsibility, leadership and resilience, the school nurtures each of its 510 pupils to achieve their maximum potential, both in the classroom and beyond. State‑of‑the‑art digital facilities underpin the learning experience, with every classroom equipped with modern technology and each student provided with a Chromebook as part of the school’s digital strategy. A strong pastoral care system ensures a warm, supportive atmosphere, while a vibrant extracurricular programme offers opportunities in sport (basketball, soccer, rugby, athletics, football, camogie), science, enterprise, journalism, coding and national competitions such as BT Young Scientist. The school’s commitment to innovation is further demonstrated by its recognised use of Google Workspace for Education, enhancing collaborative learning and teaching.
History
Coláiste Muire was founded by the Presentation Sisters in 1947 and now operates under the trusteeship of CEIST. Since its establishment, the school has grown into a nationally recognised institution noted for academic excellence, innovation and comprehensive student care.
Applying to Colaiste Muire
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 Colaiste Muire's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Colaiste Muire. 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 Colaiste Muire
How many pupils attend Colaiste Muire?
Colaiste Muire has 523 pupils enrolled, 271 girls and 252 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Colaiste Muire a DEIS school?
No. Colaiste Muire 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 Muire?
Colaiste Muire has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.