Good Counsel College
Wexford
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 744 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63610I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Good Counsel College is an Augustinian secondary school in New Ross serving a vibrant community of nearly eight hundred pupils. The college’s ethos is rooted in the Augustinian values of unity, truth and love, which shape its pastoral care, curriculum and co‑curricular programmes. Academic provision spans the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Leaving Certificate, with dedicated spaces such as a modern Technology Room, DCG (Design, Construction & Graphics) suite and a newly built ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) unit to support diverse learning needs. The campus combines historic charm with contemporary facilities. Classroom blocks are named after saints, including Cascia and Villa Nova, and a beautiful church sits at the heart of the site. Sporting provision is extensive, featuring an all‑weather pitch, a well‑equipped Sports Centre named after a former principal, and additional recent building projects such as the Fr John Hennebry Building. These facilities, together with a strong pastoral framework, provide a holistic environment that encourages academic excellence, personal development and community involvement.
History
Good Counsel College traces its origins to the Augustinian friars who arrived in New Ross in 1320. After periods of suppression and clandestine teaching during the penal era, the friars re‑established a school in the early 19th century. In 1879 Fr John Furlong founded the present college, naming it Good Counsel College, which opened on 8 September 1890 with forty day‑pupils. Boarding accommodation was added in 1897, and further expansion in 1910 provided new classrooms and dormitories, cementing its role as both a day and boarding school. Over the ensuing decades the college has continued to grow, maintaining its Augustinian tradition while adapting its facilities and curriculum to modern educational needs.
Applying to Good Counsel College
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 Good Counsel College's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Good Counsel College. 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 Good Counsel College
How many pupils attend Good Counsel College?
Good Counsel College has 744 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Good Counsel College a DEIS school?
No. Good Counsel College 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 Good Counsel College?
Good Counsel College has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by 瑞丽江的河水. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 4.0.