St Marys Central School
Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 189 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 95 girls, 94 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19595P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Mary’s Central School is a co‑educational primary school serving the twin villages of Ballineen and Enniskeane in County Cork. The school provides a nurturing environment for children from Junior Infants through 2nd Class, emphasising a balanced curriculum that blends academic rigour with a strong focus on personal development and community spirit. Its motto, *Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí* (“Praise the youth and they will come”), reflects a commitment to encouraging confidence, curiosity and a love of learning in every pupil. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities that enrich the standard curriculum. Recent programmes have included a Science Week for 2nd Class, chess clubs that develop strategic thinking, a Type Onesie Day promoting creativity and comfort, and golf taster sessions delivered by professionals from Golf Ireland. These initiatives demonstrate the school’s dedication to fostering diverse interests and holistic growth. Modern facilities support these activities, providing dedicated spaces for classroom learning, science experiments, and sport, ensuring that students have the resources they need to explore and excel.
Applying to St Marys Central 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 primary school dates apply broadly to St Marys Central 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: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 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 Marys Central School
How many pupils attend St Marys Central School?
St Marys Central School has 189 pupils enrolled, 95 girls and 94 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Marys Central School a DEIS school?
No. St Marys Central 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 Marys Central School?
St Marys Central School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.