St Joseph's College
Galway
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 791 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 62960H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Joseph’s Patrician College, popularly known as “The Bish”, is a Catholic secondary school situated in Galway. It operates under the Le Chéile Schools Trust and embraces a vision of creating a vibrant, inclusive environment where students are encouraged to learn with integrity, compassion and respect for all faiths. The college serves over 790 pupils and offers a full range of programmes across the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Senior Cycle, with a strong academic focus that aims to achieve the highest standards of educational excellence. The school provides a broad curriculum complemented by extensive support services, including wellbeing and mental‑health programmes, guidance and counselling, and provision for special educational needs. A wide variety of extracurricular activities are available, ranging from competitive sports such as soccer, rugby, hurling, Gaelic games, rowing, athletics, basketball and swimming, to cultural pursuits including debating, drama, music and chess. These opportunities are designed to develop well‑rounded individuals and foster a sense of community and teamwork. Facilities at the college include dedicated sports areas, specialist classrooms for science and technology, and resources for the arts and music. The virtual tour and modern learning environments reflect the school’s commitment to providing a contemporary, supportive setting that prepares students for further education and active participation in a diverse world.
History
St Joseph’s Patrician College traces its origins to the Patrician Brothers, who were founded by Bishop Daniel Delany in 1808. The Brothers first arrived in Galway in 1827, establishing the Lombard St. school, which became the largest National School in Ireland and provided free meals during the Great Famine. In 1862 Bishop John McEvilly founded St Joseph’s Seminary on Nuns’ Island to serve the city’s middle‑class boys; it quickly became known locally as “the bishop’s school” or “The Bish”. The term “seminary” originally had no ecclesiastical meaning, but was later changed to “St Joseph’s College” at the request of Bishop Michael Brown, and in the 1970s the word “Patrician” was added to honour the founding order. A National School for junior pupils opened in 1899, and in 1930 the college expanded by acquiring the former Persse’s Distillery bonded store, relocating its intermediate pupils there. The school has continued to evolve while maintaining its Catholic ethos and commitment to community service.
Applying to St Joseph's 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 St Joseph's 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 St Joseph's 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 St Joseph's College
How many pupils attend St Joseph's College?
St Joseph's College has 791 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Joseph's College a DEIS school?
No. St Joseph's 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 St Joseph's College?
St Joseph's College has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.