Royal School Cavan
Cavan
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 386 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 179 girls, 207 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 61080S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Royal School Cavan is a co‑educational secondary school that blends a long‑standing Christian ethos with a modern, inclusive learning environment. The school strives to nurture each pupil’s gifts and talents, encouraging both academic achievement and personal development through supportive, creative teaching practices. Emphasis is placed on lifelong learning, with a curriculum designed to challenge students while fostering confidence and resilience. Recent modernisation has equipped the campus with contemporary facilities that support a broad range of extra‑curricular pursuits. Students regularly compete for national awards in art and science, and the school boasts a strong record in regional competitions such as Young Enterprise and cookery. A vibrant programme of charitable fundraising, language tours to continental Europe, trips to England and adventure excursions across Ireland reinforces a sense of social responsibility and cultural awareness. The school’s house system, sports provisions and well‑maintained grounds provide further opportunities for holistic development.
History
Founded in 1611, Royal School Cavan appointed its first headmaster, John Robinson, and initially held classes in the former St Mary’s Abbey. Early headmasters included John Stern (1622‑24) and Nicholas Higginson, under whose tenure the school received a substantial land grant from King Charles I, eventually totalling around 736 acres. The upheavals of the 1641 Rising and subsequent Cromwellian period disrupted school operations until the Restoration, when John Newcommen was appointed in 1661. After a period of limited documentation, Dr Thomas Sheridan became the most notable 18th‑century headmaster (1735‑38). The 19th‑century Board of Education reforms led to the construction of the present Lurganboy building in 1819, designed by Francis Johnson and executed by John McMahon. Despite periods of decline, the school persisted, celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2011 and continuing its educational mission into the 21st century.
Applying to Royal School Cavan
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 Royal School Cavan's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Royal School Cavan. 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 Royal School Cavan
How many pupils attend Royal School Cavan?
Royal School Cavan has 386 pupils enrolled, 179 girls and 207 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Royal School Cavan a DEIS school?
No. Royal School Cavan 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 Royal School Cavan?
Royal School Cavan has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.