St. Macartan's College
Monaghan
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 617 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
- 64810V the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Macartan’s College is a co‑educational secondary school situated in North Monaghan, offering a comprehensive programme from Junior Cycle through Transition Year to Senior Cycle. The college promotes a progressive, inclusive and vibrant learning environment rooted in Christian values, aiming to develop both academic excellence and personal growth. Emphasis is placed on the use of modern technology to enhance learning outcomes, highlighted by its status as a Google Reference School and the provision of the Compass mobile app for easy access to student information. The campus features a range of dedicated facilities to support a broad curriculum, including specialised classrooms, science laboratories, and spaces for sport and the arts. Inclusive learning strategies are embedded throughout the school, ensuring that all students receive the support they need to succeed. A strong focus on community involvement and extracurricular activities further enriches the student experience, fostering leadership, teamwork and a sense of belonging.
History
St. Macartan’s College was founded in 1848, originally established as a seminary dedicated to the education of young men in the tradition of its patron saint, St. Macartan. Over the centuries the institution has evolved into a modern secondary school while retaining its historic ethos of service to the local community and commitment to faith‑based education.
Applying to St. Macartan'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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to St. Macartan's College. 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. Macartan's College
How many pupils attend St. Macartan's College?
St. Macartan's College has 617 pupils enrolled. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St. Macartan's College a DEIS school?
No. St. Macartan'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. Macartan's College?
St. Macartan's College has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.