Mount Mercy College
Cork
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 811 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 62661U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Mount Mercy College is an all‑girls Catholic secondary school situated in Dublin and operates under the trusteeship of CEIST (Catholic Education an Irish School Trust). The college delivers a holistic education that balances rigorous academic study with a broad programme of cultural, artistic, technological and spiritual activities. Its curriculum is designed to nurture each pupil’s self‑worth and confidence, encouraging them to excel in the Junior Certificate, Transition Year and Leaving Certificate cycles while also developing a sense of caring, justice and social responsibility. The school’s ethos, inspired by Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy, places a strong emphasis on inclusive pastoral care and a supportive learning environment. Students benefit from well‑equipped classrooms, specialist facilities for science, technology and the arts, and a wide range of extra‑curricular clubs that promote teamwork, leadership and community engagement. Through partnership with parents, staff and the wider community, Mount Mercy College strives to prepare young women to become responsible citizens of Ireland and the European community.
History
Mount Mercy College was founded in 1965 under the trusteeship of the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters trace their origins to Catherine McAuley, who established the Religious Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. Since its establishment, the college has continued to uphold the Mercy tradition of holistic education, focusing on the academic, cultural, social, spiritual, aesthetic and technological development of its students.
Applying to Mount 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
View Mount Mercy 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 Mount Mercy 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 Mount Mercy College
How many pupils attend Mount Mercy College?
Mount Mercy College has 811 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Mount Mercy College a DEIS school?
No. Mount 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.
What is the ethos of Mount Mercy College?
Mount Mercy College has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.