Scoil Mhuire
Kanturk, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 271 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 152 girls, 119 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 62290L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Scoil Mhuire Kanturk is a co‑educational Catholic voluntary secondary school under the trusteeship of CEIST, serving the Kanturk community in County Cork. The school’s ethos centres on inclusive, holistic education, encouraging students to develop academically, socially and emotionally within a collaborative learning environment. Its vision promotes a modern, nurturing setting where diversity is celebrated and lifelong learning is fostered, guided by the motto “Learning Together, Learning for Life”. The campus combines contemporary facilities with specialised spaces that support a broad curriculum. A purpose‑built block on Greenfield Road houses specialist rooms for technology, design & communication graphics, wood technology and textiles, alongside a fully equipped gym, exercise suite and a lecture/demonstration hall with tiered seating. A state‑of‑the‑art wireless network and one‑to‑one Chromebooks enable digital learning, complemented by the Google Classroom platform. Recent investments have upgraded equipment in technology and wood workshops, and a six‑million‑euro extension is in the design stage to add further classrooms and specialist rooms, reinforcing the school’s commitment to innovative, well‑resourced education.
History
Scoil Mhuire traces its origins to 8 December 1868 when the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Kanturk and began educating girls. In 1895 a “Pension School” was established, and by 1930 the institution was formally named Scoil Mhuire. The school first entered the Intermediate Certificate examinations in 1933 and expanded its premises on Convent Avenue over subsequent decades. In 1978 the local lay Boys Catholic School closed, and its staff and pupils transferred to Scoil Mhuire, making the school co‑educational. A new block with specialist rooms opened on Greenfield Road in 1987, followed by further classroom additions in 2001 and the cessation of use of the Convent Avenue building in 2003. The school transitioned from Mercy Trusteeship to CEIST in 2006‑07, and has since undertaken extensive modernisation, including gym refurbishments, technology upgrades, and the introduction of Chromebooks and Google Classroom. A major €6 million extension was approved in 2021 and is currently in the design phase.
Applying to Scoil Mhuire
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 Scoil Mhuire. 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 Scoil Mhuire
How many pupils attend Scoil Mhuire?
Scoil Mhuire has 271 pupils enrolled, 152 girls and 119 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Scoil Mhuire a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Mhuire 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 Scoil Mhuire?
Scoil Mhuire has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.