Presentation College
Athenry,, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 1,100 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 555 girls, 545 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 62870G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Presentation College Athenry is a voluntary co‑educational secondary school rooted in the Catholic tradition and the educational ethos of Nano Nagle. The college emphasises the development of Christian values through daily prayer, liturgical celebrations and religious formation classes, while welcoming pupils of all faiths and cultural backgrounds. As a member of CEIST – Catholic Education an Irish Schools Trust – the school pursues a holistic curriculum that balances academic rigour with personal growth, encouraging responsibility, mutual respect and community service. The school day runs from 8.00 am, with organised study facilities available for early arrivals and evening revision sessions for exam students. Lessons commence at 9.00 am and finish at 4.00 pm (1.20 pm on Fridays). Facilities include a long‑standing technology block, a locally‑supported gymnasium, a canteen, and dedicated study areas. All extra‑curricular activities, ranging from sport to cultural clubs, are supervised by staff, and the college boasts a strong record in hurling, camogie and cross‑country. A robust pastoral system provides year‑heads, academic monitors, guidance counsellors and a Student Representative Council to support pupil welfare and voice.
History
The institution began in 1908 as the Presentation Convent in Athenry, founded by the Tuam mother‑house of the Presentation Sisters. By the late 1920s the Sisters introduced secondary education for girls, with the first Intermediate Certificate candidates sitting exams in 1930. The school was formally registered as a secondary school in 1948 and expanded its enrolment throughout the 1950s, adding a Technology Block in 1951. In 1964 boys were admitted, and the school was renamed Presentation College. The 1968 amalgamation with the co‑educational Coolarne school and the introduction of free education dramatically increased numbers. A new main building and gymnasium were completed between 1980 and 1982. Today the college continues under the trusteeship of CEIST.
Applying to Presentation 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 Presentation 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 Presentation 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 Presentation College
How many pupils attend Presentation College?
Presentation College has 1,100 pupils enrolled, 555 girls and 545 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Presentation College a DEIS school?
No. Presentation 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 Presentation College?
Presentation College has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.