Sacred Heart Secondary School
Clonakilty, Cork
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 568 about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 62170B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, is an all‑girls Catholic secondary school under the trusteeship of CEIST. With an enrolment of 544 pupils, the college offers a comprehensive curriculum that balances academic rigour with a holistic approach to personal development. The school’s ethos is rooted in the philosophy of Catherine McAuley, promoting inclusivity, social justice and a values‑based Christian education while encouraging students to cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The college provides a supportive environment through a strong pastoral care system, where subject teachers play a central role in each class. A wide range of extra‑curricular activities, including sport, visual arts, music, drama and a dedicated TY Live programme, foster physical wellbeing and creative expression. Dedicated facilities such as a sports complex, SHSS Wellbeing centre and SEN support services underline the school’s commitment to nurturing both the mind and body, preparing students for further education, apprenticeships and future careers.
History
Sacred Heart Secondary School was founded in 1941 to provide secondary education for girls in the Clonakilty area. Over the decades it has grown into a vibrant educational complex, maintaining its Catholic character while expanding its inclusive intake and comprehensive curriculum. The school continues to build on its legacy of academic excellence and holistic development.
Applying to Sacred Heart 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Sacred Heart Secondary School. 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 Sacred Heart Secondary School
How many pupils attend Sacred Heart Secondary School?
Sacred Heart Secondary School has 568 pupils enrolled. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Sacred Heart Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. Sacred Heart 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 Sacred Heart Secondary School?
Sacred Heart Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.