St Mary's Knockbeg College
Carlow
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 515 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 61130H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Mary’s Knockbeg College is an all‑boys, non‑fee‑paying voluntary Catholic secondary school owned by the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin and approved by the Department of Education. The college positions itself as “much more than a school, a real community”, offering a supportive environment that blends academic rigour with a strong Catholic ethos. The curriculum is delivered in line with national standards while encouraging personal development through a wide range of extracurricular activities, including Gaelic football, hurling, basketball, athletics and chess, fostering teamwork, leadership and resilience. The rural campus, set three kilometres from Carlow town on the Laois side of the border, is surrounded by native flora and fauna and lies beside the River Barrow. Facilities are extensive: a fully equipped gym, a full‑size Gaelic pitch with three additional training pitches, a tennis court, a basketball court, two modern computer labs and a chapel for reflection. A new pitch development, scheduled to begin in October 2025, will further enhance the sporting provision. The college also benefits from a strong tradition of past‑pupil involvement, with alumni contributing to school life and projects, reinforcing a sense of continuity and pride.
Applying to St Mary's Knockbeg 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 Knockbeg 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 Knockbeg College
How many pupils attend St Mary's Knockbeg College?
St Mary's Knockbeg College has 515 pupils enrolled. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Mary's Knockbeg College a DEIS school?
No. St Mary's Knockbeg 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 Knockbeg College?
St Mary's Knockbeg College has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.