St Mary'S Secondary School
Macroom, Cork
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 431 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 62320R the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Mary's Secondary School is a Catholic girls' secondary school in Macroom, County Cork, with 431 students enrolled. The school is situated in a town with a long history along the River Sullane. Macroom developed as a settlement around Macroom Castle, which was built in the 12th century. The town was an important centre in the region, with the McCarthy family controlling the castle until the mid-17th century. The castle was later granted to Admiral William Penn by Cromwell. Sports fields, a golf club and Bishop McEgan College were later developed on the castle demesne after local trustees bought the land in 1952. The castle ruins were demolished in 1967. The town grew as a market centre, with the railway arriving in 1866. No subjects are taught through Irish at the school.
Applying to St Mary'S Secondary 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 post-primary school dates apply broadly to St Mary'S Secondary 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: 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 Secondary School
How many pupils attend St Mary'S Secondary School?
St Mary'S Secondary School has 431 pupils enrolled. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Mary'S Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. St Mary'S Secondary 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 Mary'S Secondary School?
St Mary'S Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.