St Mary's Secondary School
Holy Faith Convent, Dublin
Key facts
- DEIS
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 830 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60770P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Mary’s Holy Faith Secondary School, situated in Glasnevin, is a co‑educational post‑primary institution that follows the Holy Faith Congregation’s ethos of holistic development. The school’s central purpose is to deliver a balanced programme that nurtures the religious, moral, intellectual, human, social and physical‑recreational growth of each student, in line with the directives of the 1998 Education Act. Learning is therefore framed as the education of the whole person, with a strong emphasis on Catholic values, personal responsibility and community engagement. The curriculum spans the Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle and a dedicated Transition Year, offering a broad range of academic subjects alongside a vibrant extracurricular portfolio. Students can join sports, music, language clubs, a book club, a Little Chef programme and a homework club, while a virtual tour created by Transition Year students showcases the school’s facilities and learning environment. The school’s pastoral approach underpins daily life, fostering collaborative relationships between staff, parents and pupils and encouraging self‑reliant, integrated Christian citizens ready to contribute positively to society.
History
Margaret Aylward founded St Mary’s, Glasnevin, in 1873. The present secondary school opened in 1941 under the direction of the Holy Faith Sisters. The school’s philosophy follows the Holy Faith Congregation and the 1998 Education Act, aiming to provide religious, moral, intellectual, human, social and physical‑recreational education. Its mission is to develop the whole person, forming integrated, self‑reliant Christian individuals who can build a better world.
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 830 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Mary's Secondary School a DEIS school?
Yes. St Mary's Secondary School is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
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.