Mercy College
Sligo
Key facts
- Some Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 718 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 715 girls, 3 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- Some pupils taught some subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 65181V the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Mercy College is a Ceist‑voluntary Catholic secondary school for girls, situated in Sligo town in the north‑west of Ireland, with a co‑educational Aonad sharing its campus. The college delivers a holistic education that balances academic rigour with spiritual, moral, physical, social, aesthetic and vocational development, aiming to enable each student to reach her full potential in a caring and nurturing environment. The school benefits from a newly refurbished gymnasium that houses a full‑size basketball court and a modern fitness suite, alongside a well‑stocked library, contemporary art and technology rooms, and a blended e‑learning platform that provides 24/7 access to digital resources. A strong emphasis is placed on sport and extra‑curricular activities, particularly basketball, which has a long tradition of success, as well as a wide range of clubs and programmes that support the development of visual, spiritual, interpersonal and physical intelligences.
History
The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Sligo in 1846, shortly after the death of founder Catherine McAuley. In 1849 they opened Scoil Phadraig Naofa, the town’s first public school, initially serving 100 pupils. By 1890 enrolments had grown to 600 girls and 200 boys, and the sisters expanded their provision to include teacher training, scholarship classes and adult education for women. A pre‑intermediate class was introduced in 1946, and in 1976 the school moved to its present premises, becoming Mercy College. Subsequent developments added a new wing and prayer room in 1992 and further extensions, including a staff room and modern art and technology facilities, in 2001. Basketball has been a hallmark of the college since 1966, achieving European titles in the early 1970s.
Applying to Mercy 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Mercy College. 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 Mercy College
How many pupils attend Mercy College?
Mercy College has 718 pupils enrolled, 715 girls and 3 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Mercy College a DEIS school?
No. Mercy 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.
Does Mercy College teach through Irish?
Partly. Mercy College teaches some subjects through Irish.