Coláiste Mhuire
School Details
About
Coláiste Mhuire is a modern, co‑educational second‑level school situated in the rural north of County Kilkenny. It offers a non‑selective, comprehensive education that caters for the full ability range and welcomes pupils of all denominations. The curriculum follows the programme prescribed by the Minister for Education and Skills, with a strong emphasis on moral, spiritual, intellectual, social and personal development. Pastoral care is central to school life, with dedicated career guidance and counselling services that support students in academic and personal matters. The campus has been expanded repeatedly to meet growing demand. Recent developments include a dedicated ASD unit, a state‑of‑the‑art woodwork suite, additional classrooms, a weather‑proof pitch and an extended sports field. These facilities underpin a vibrant extracurricular programme, highlighted by successes in hurling, camogie, badminton, handball and basketball. Strong links with local enterprises, community organisations and night‑class provision further enrich the learning environment, while a restorative approach to behaviour promotes a safe, respectful and supportive atmosphere for all learners.
History
Johnstown Vocational School opened in 1952 with three specialised classrooms. Over the following decades the school expanded its curriculum and enrolment, achieving national recognition for its garden in 1978‑79. A new purpose‑built campus was completed in 1995 for 300 pupils, followed by further extensions in 2003, a weather‑proof pitch in 2009 and two new wings in 2019 – one housing an ASD unit and the other adding a modern woodwork room and four classrooms. Today the school serves around 600 students from Kilkenny, Laois and Tipperary and continues to build on its strong sporting and community traditions.