St Marys National School
Cobh, Cork
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 248 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16377N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Mary’s National School is a co‑educational Roman Catholic primary school situated in the historic harbour town of Cobh, overlooking St Colman’s Cathedral and Cork Harbour. The school serves a community of 249 pupils and employs a dedicated team of staff, including special‑needs assistants, to deliver the Irish Primary School Curriculum. Central to its ethos is a focus on wellbeing, resilience and inclusion, encapsulated in the motto *ag fás is ag foghlaim le chéile* (“growing and learning together”). The school offers a range of specialised facilities to support both academic and personal development. There are three dedicated special classes for girls with autism, a sensory room, a modern computer suite, a well‑equipped library and an outdoor classroom. A state‑of‑the‑art playground provides a safe environment for physical play and the development of motor skills. Additional resources such as a school garden, polytunnel and various extracurricular programmes (e.g., Bricks4Kidz STEM activities) enrich the learning experience and foster community engagement.
History
St Mary’s National School was founded in 1914 by the Sisters of Mercy. It operates under the patronage of the Bishop of Cloyne and has grown from its early beginnings to become a vibrant primary school serving the Cobh community while maintaining its Catholic ethos and commitment to holistic education.
Applying to St Marys National 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
View St Marys National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Marys National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 National School
How many pupils attend St Marys National School?
St Marys National School has 248 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Marys National School a DEIS school?
No. St Marys National 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 National School?
St Marys National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' primary school.