St. Louis Secondary School
Monaghan
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 414 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 64760J the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Louis Secondary School is a Catholic Voluntary Secondary School for girls located in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. The school delivers a first‑class education rooted in a strong tradition of academic achievement while fostering a supportive, friendly and open environment. Over six years of secondary education, pupils are encouraged to develop confidence, independence and a clear sense of future pathways, with a curriculum that balances rigorous academic standards with opportunities for personal growth and extracurricular involvement. The ethos of the school is firmly Christian, promoting respect, inclusivity and the spiritual development of each student. St. Louis celebrates the individual talents and abilities of its learners, offering specialised provision such as the Rang Sorcha autism classroom to support students with special needs. As a member of the Le Chéile Trust, the school benefits from shared resources and a collaborative governance structure, ensuring that facilities and teaching practices remain contemporary and student‑centred.
History
The Congregation of the Sisters of St Louis was founded in France in 1844 and the first sisters arrived in Ireland in 1859. In 1888 three Sisters responded to a request from Dean Birmingham and opened a small primary school in Carrickmacross, later expanding to a secondary curriculum. A boarding school was built in 1899, with the boarding element phased out during the 1970s. Today the school operates as a Catholic Voluntary Secondary School for girls under the trusteeship of the Le Chéile Trust, guided by a mission to foster a friendly, values‑based community where students think independently and respect spiritual values.
Applying to St. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis Secondary School
How many pupils attend St. Louis Secondary School?
St. Louis Secondary School has 414 pupils enrolled. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St. Louis Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. St. Louis 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. Louis Secondary School?
St. Louis Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.