St.Brendan's Community School
Offaly
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 875 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 461 girls, 414 boys
- Ethos
- Inter Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 91491L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Brendan's Community School is a mixed, inter-denominational secondary school in Birr, Co. Offaly, with an enrolment of 875 students. The school has DEIS status. The curriculum includes the Junior Certificate, Transition Year, the Leaving Certificate, the Leaving Certificate Applied and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme. Core Junior Cycle subjects include Irish, English, Maths, Science, History, Geography and Religion, with short courses in SPHE, CSPE, Physical Education and Digital Media Literacy. Students sample the full range of optional subjects during their first term before choosing three for examination level, with options including Business Studies, French, German, Home Economics, Graphics, Wood Technology, Engineering and Music. The school states its aim as creating a caring community of learning where each individual is valued. Extra-curricular activities include a school library, homework club, robotics and coding, and Gaisce. The school serves students from South Offaly and North Tipperary.
History
St. Brendan's Community School traces its origins to 1841, when Ven. Catherine McAuley founded a school in Birr, which later became Mercy P.S. The Mercy Sisters developed a Secondary Top School in St. John's Convent in the 1920s, which progressed to full secondary status in 1963 as St. John's Secondary School. The Presentation Brothers arrived in Birr in 1878 and opened a school on Moorpark St. In 1952 they purchased Brendan House and Presentation College came into existence. A Technical School was established in Green St. in 1909, and a new Vocational School on Railway Road opened in 1937. Following free secondary education in 1967, numbers grew and a debate in the 1970s led to the decision to build a single community school. Taoiseach Liam T. Cosgrave turned the sod in 1977. In January 1980, Presentation Brothers' College, St. John's Secondary School and Birr Vocational School amalgamated to form Birr Community School. The school was officially opened in 1982 by Minister for Education John Boland, and was named St. Brendan's Community School.
Applying to St.Brendan's Community 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 St.Brendan's Community 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 St.Brendan's Community School
How many pupils attend St.Brendan's Community School?
St.Brendan's Community School has 875 pupils enrolled, 461 girls and 414 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St.Brendan's Community School a DEIS school?
Yes. St.Brendan's Community School is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of St.Brendan's Community School?
St.Brendan's Community School has an Inter Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.