Mercy Secondary School
Longford
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 759 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 399 girls, 360 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63710M the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Mercy Secondary School, situated in Ballymahon, is a Catholic secondary school founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924 and now a member of the CEIST (Catholic Education, an Irish Schools Trust) network. The school welcomes pupils of all faiths and strives to create a caring, inclusive atmosphere where each student is encouraged to reach their full potential, develop a positive self‑image and pursue academic excellence. A broad, balanced curriculum is delivered alongside a strong emphasis on personal development, with modern support tools such as the VSware school app and the Get Fresh Card programme facilitating communication and student wellbeing. Extra‑curricular provision is a cornerstone of school life, with a proud tradition of sports, clubs, talks and presentations that complement classroom learning. The school also offers a range of support services, including TUSLA safeguarding, the Community Childcare Subvention Programme and an Age Card for senior students, ensuring a holistic approach to education that nurtures both academic and personal growth.
History
Mercy Secondary School was established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924 and later became part of the CEIST network, maintaining its Catholic ethos while welcoming students of diverse faiths.
Applying to Mercy Secondary School
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 Mercy Secondary School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Mercy Secondary School. 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 Mercy Secondary School
How many pupils attend Mercy Secondary School?
Mercy Secondary School has 759 pupils enrolled, 399 girls and 360 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Mercy Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. Mercy Secondary School 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 Mercy Secondary School?
Mercy Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.