St Marys National School
School Details
Location
About
St Mary’s National School is a co‑educational Roman Catholic primary school situated in the historic harbour town of Cobh, overlooking St Colman’s Cathedral and Cork Harbour. The school serves a community of 249 pupils and employs a dedicated team of staff, including special‑needs assistants, to deliver the Irish Primary School Curriculum. Central to its ethos is a focus on wellbeing, resilience and inclusion, encapsulated in the motto *ag fás is ag foghlaim le chéile* (“growing and learning together”). The school offers a range of specialised facilities to support both academic and personal development. There are three dedicated special classes for girls with autism, a sensory room, a modern computer suite, a well‑equipped library and an outdoor classroom. A state‑of‑the‑art playground provides a safe environment for physical play and the development of motor skills. Additional resources such as a school garden, polytunnel and various extracurricular programmes (e.g., Bricks4Kidz STEM activities) enrich the learning experience and foster community engagement.
History
St Mary’s National School was founded in 1914 by the Sisters of Mercy. It operates under the patronage of the Bishop of Cloyne and has grown from its early beginnings to become a vibrant primary school serving the Cobh community while maintaining its Catholic ethos and commitment to holistic education.