St Raphaels College
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.