St. Mary's C.B.S.
Portlaoise, Laois
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 853 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63430G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Mary’s C.B.S. in Portlaoise is a secondary school founded in the Edmund Rice tradition, offering a holistic education that balances academic rigour with faith‑based values and community partnership. The school’s ethos centres on excellent teaching and learning, nurturing Christian spirituality, fostering leadership opportunities and creating a caring, inclusive environment for all pupils. The campus, situated on Borris Road, boasts state‑of‑the‑art facilities including the Rice Nagle Sports Complex, full‑size soccer and GAA pitches and indoor basketball courts. These resources support a broad curriculum and a wide range of extracurricular activities, enabling students to develop both academic and personal skills. A dedicated school app keeps families informed of daily news, events and important information, reinforcing strong links between home and school.
History
St Mary’s C.B.S. traces its origins to 1847 when Edmund Rice established a small school on Tower Hill, one of the first outside Waterford and Dublin. The original corner stones from that site were relocated in 2010 to the current Borris Road entrance. In 2010 the school opened its new campus to 500 pupils and has since expanded its enrolment and facilities, celebrating the 175th anniversary of its founding in 2022.
Applying to St. Mary's C.B.S.
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. Mary's C.B.S.. 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. Mary's C.B.S.
How many pupils attend St. Mary's C.B.S.?
St. Mary's C.B.S. has 853 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St. Mary's C.B.S. a DEIS school?
No. St. Mary's C.B.S. 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. Mary's C.B.S.?
St. Mary's C.B.S. has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.