Gaelcholáiste Mhuire
An Mhainistir Thuaidh, Cork
Key facts
- DEIS
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 690 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 322 girls, 368 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All pupils taught all subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 62531H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Gaelcholáiste Mhuire A.G. is a Catholic, co‑educational secondary school situated on the historic North Monastery site in Cork. Operating under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, the college provides a caring environment where Christian values are woven throughout the curriculum and pastoral life. The school delivers its programme through the medium of Irish, with English forms also available, fostering bilingual proficiency and cultural continuity. The campus occupies a modern building that was redeveloped from the former Christian Brothers’ monastery, offering contemporary science laboratories, specialist classrooms and ample space for sport and extracurricular activities. Recent plans for a €16 million state‑of‑the‑art extension demonstrate a commitment to expanding facilities and enhancing the learning environment. With an enrolment of around 535 pupils, the college promotes academic excellence, personal fulfilment and a strong sense of community, encouraging students to achieve both scholastic and personal goals.
History
Gaelcholáiste Mhuire traces its roots to the North Monastery, founded by the Christian Brothers on 9 September 1811 in a modest house opposite the Cathedral. The first school building, Ard Muire, was erected in 1816, and the Brothers traditionally taught the senior ‘A’ classes through Irish. From the 1970s until 2002 the school operated from the former Scoil an Bhr. De Búrca site. In 1994 the Brothers’ house was vacated, providing a new location for a Gaelic college that would admit both girls and boys. The college officially opened on the present site in mid‑September 2002 and adopted the name Gaelcholáiste Mhuire A.G. in 1998. It became fully co‑educational in 2001, and today serves approximately 535 pupils.
Applying to Gaelcholáiste 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 Gaelcholáiste 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 Gaelcholáiste Mhuire
How many pupils attend Gaelcholáiste Mhuire?
Gaelcholáiste Mhuire has 690 pupils enrolled, 322 girls and 368 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Gaelcholáiste Mhuire a DEIS school?
Yes. Gaelcholáiste 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.
Does Gaelcholáiste Mhuire teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelcholáiste Mhuire teaches all subjects through Irish.