Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge
Baile Gunnair, Waterford
Key facts
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 146 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 71 girls, 75 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All pupils taught all subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 68078U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelcholáiste Port Láirge is an Irish‑medium secondary school situated in the heart of Waterford, offering a vibrant learning environment that blends academic rigour with cultural immersion. The college delivers the full Junior and Senior Cycle curriculum through the medium of Gaeilge, fostering fluency and a deep appreciation of Irish heritage while meeting the standards of the Irish education system. Modern classrooms, specialist rooms for science and technology, and dedicated spaces for the arts support a broad range of subjects and extracurricular pursuits. The school places a strong emphasis on community involvement and personal development. Regular events such as the annual skating afternoon, inter‑school sports competitions and cultural celebrations create a lively atmosphere that encourages teamwork, resilience and school spirit. A well‑structured timetable and access to resources such as the school’s online portal ensure that pupils can engage fully with both academic and co‑curricular activities, preparing them for further education and lifelong learning.
Applying to Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge
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 Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge. 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 Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge
How many pupils attend Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge?
Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge has 146 pupils enrolled, 71 girls and 75 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge a DEIS school?
No. Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge 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.
Does Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge teaches all subjects through Irish.