St Joseph's Secondary School
Mayo
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 542 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
- 64590K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Joseph’s Secondary School is an all‑girls Catholic secondary school situated in the heart of Castlebar, County Mayo. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the college blends a long‑standing Catholic ethos with an inclusive approach, welcoming pupils from all religious traditions. The school delivers the full Junior Cycle, a dedicated Transition Year programme and the Senior Cycle, underpinned by a modern digital learning plan and a strong emphasis on wellbeing, guidance and special educational needs support. The campus occupies historic grounds formerly belonging to Lord Lucan, providing a distinctive setting that combines heritage with contemporary facilities. Learners benefit from well‑equipped classrooms, access to blended‑learning technologies, and a range of extracurricular activities such as cultural tours, musical productions and leadership conferences. The school’s ethos centres on educating the heart, hands and head, fostering academic rigour, personal development and community engagement.
History
St Joseph’s is an all‑girls secondary school founded by the Sisters of Mercy. It is the oldest secondary school in Castlebar, with origins dating back to 1853. The school stands on the historic grounds of the former Lord Lucan estate. In January 1845, the parish priest Fr Gibbons convened a public meeting in the local parish church with the aim of bringing the Sisters of Mercy to the town, leading to the establishment of the school.
Applying to St Joseph's 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 St Joseph's 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 St Joseph's Secondary School
How many pupils attend St Joseph's Secondary School?
St Joseph's Secondary School has 542 pupils enrolled. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Joseph's Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. St Joseph's 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 St Joseph's Secondary School?
St Joseph's Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.