St Raphaels College
Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 749 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 353 girls, 396 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63070C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Raphael’s College is a Catholic, co‑educational secondary school situated in Loughrea, County Galway. The college delivers a broad, balanced curriculum that seeks to develop each pupil’s academic potential while also nurturing talents in sport, music, debating, acting, quizzes and a range of other extracurricular activities. Academic achievement is a hallmark of the school, with state examination results consistently ranking among the best in the country and the majority of graduates progressing to third‑level study. Rooted in the ethos of the Mercy Sisters, the college’s values are grounded in the teachings of the Gospel, placing the care and welfare of students at the centre of school life. A strong emphasis is placed on community service and charitable initiatives, encouraging pupils to give back to society. The school supports families through modern communication tools such as the Compass app, which provides parents with easy access to reports and school information, and maintains comprehensive safeguarding and behaviour policies to ensure a safe learning environment.
History
St Raphael’s College was founded by the Clonfert Mercy Sisters in 1917. Until 1974 the school operated as a secondary institution for day girls and boarders from the local area and beyond. In 1974 it amalgamated with St Brendan’s De la Salle boys’ school, and since that time has provided Catholic secondary education to both boys and girls from the Loughrea area.
Applying to St Raphaels 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 Raphaels 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 Raphaels College
How many pupils attend St Raphaels College?
St Raphaels College has 749 pupils enrolled, 353 girls and 396 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Raphaels College a DEIS school?
No. St Raphaels 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 Raphaels College?
St Raphaels College has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.