St. Mary's C.B.S.
School Details
About
St Mary’s C.B.S. in Portlaoise is a secondary school founded in the Edmund Rice tradition, offering a holistic education that balances academic rigour with faith‑based values and community partnership. The school’s ethos centres on excellent teaching and learning, nurturing Christian spirituality, fostering leadership opportunities and creating a caring, inclusive environment for all pupils. The campus, situated on Borris Road, boasts state‑of‑the‑art facilities including the Rice Nagle Sports Complex, full‑size soccer and GAA pitches and indoor basketball courts. These resources support a broad curriculum and a wide range of extracurricular activities, enabling students to develop both academic and personal skills. A dedicated school app keeps families informed of daily news, events and important information, reinforcing strong links between home and school.
History
St Mary’s C.B.S. traces its origins to 1847 when Edmund Rice established a small school on Tower Hill, one of the first outside Waterford and Dublin. The original corner stones from that site were relocated in 2010 to the current Borris Road entrance. In 2010 the school opened its new campus to 500 pupils and has since expanded its enrolment and facilities, celebrating the 175th anniversary of its founding in 2022.