St Mary's College
St. Marys Road,, Louth
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 916 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 384 girls, 532 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63890R the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Mary’s College, Dundalk is a Catholic co‑educational secondary school situated on an 11‑acre campus in the heart of the town. Under the trusteeship of the Marist Fathers, the college serves over 700 pupils and delivers a holistic education that balances academic rigour with pastoral and spiritual development. The school’s curriculum is broad, encompassing the Junior Cycle, Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, and is supported by a dedicated staff committed to fostering respect, hard work and excellence. State‑of‑the‑art facilities underpin the college’s modern teaching and learning approach. Recent investment has produced a new school building equipped with interactive whiteboards, data projectors and classroom computers, while a fleet of thirty Chromebooks enables digital learning across subjects. Extensive playing fields and specialised sports amenities encourage active participation in a wide range of extra‑curricular activities, from athletics to the arts, reinforcing the college’s emphasis on the whole‑person development of its students.
History
The Marist Fathers purchased Church Hill House on 22 October 1859 and opened St Mary’s College on 17 September 1861 with an initial enrolment of twenty‑five pupils. Founded as part of the wider Marist Family, comprising brothers, fathers, sisters and lay members, the college has maintained its Marist heritage while evolving to meet contemporary educational needs.
Applying to St Mary'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 Mary'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 Mary's College
How many pupils attend St Mary's College?
St Mary's College has 916 pupils enrolled, 384 girls and 532 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Mary's College a DEIS school?
No. St Mary'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 Mary's College?
St Mary's College has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.