County Roscommon school set for co-ed status unveils new facilities
Mercy College Roscommon (MCR) will be a new co-ed in Roscommon Town.
Mercy College Roscommon (MCR), a soon-to-be new co-ed formerly known as the Convent of Mercy Roscommon, has unveiled its new science lab, fitness hub and home economics room.
In advance of their open day tomorrow Thursday, November 21st, Mercy College Roscommon (MCR), located in Roscommon Town, is excited to announce that the secondary school will become co-educational in September 2025.
It will mark a new chapter as it accepts boys into First Year for the first time since opening in 1929.
From this week onwards, the school will be accepting enrolment applications from both girls and boys into first year for 2025.
One of the top performing schools in Connacht, the school prides itself in its pursuit of excellence in all areas of education. The school attaches great importance to its reputation for having high academic standards for all students and in encouraging each student to reach their full potential.
“From September 2025, the Convent of Mercy will change its name to Mercy College Roscommon to coincide with a new and exciting development in the history of the school, when we will become a co-educational school and accept applications for first year enrolment from both girls and boys,” says Principal Miriam Hunt.
“We are also embarking on a major new building project involving a multi-million-euro extension approved by the Department of Education. This will complement the existing extensive facilities together with the recently refurbished state-of- the- art Science Lab, Home Economics room, Applied Technology Room and Fitness Hub.
“We have developed our curriculum extensively over recent years with the introduction of Leaving Cert exam PE, Politics and Society, Applied Technology and Technical Graphics.
“The broad curriculum that we offer is complemented by a comprehensive extra-curricular and co-curricular programme and our student support services are designed to ensure that the individual needs of each student are addressed,” Principal Miriam Hunt said.
The school’s reputation precedes itself as it enters a new age. Since it was established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1929 it has provided an excellent education for the girls of Roscommon Town and its environs for almost 100 years. Into the future, Mercy College Roscommon will continue to provide an excellent education for both girls and boys.
On Friday, November 15th, the school proudly marked a significant milestone for our school with the official opening of MCR’s newly refurbished science lab. Pupils and staff were delighted to welcome Dr. Mick Henry from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who officially unveiled the new lab. Dr.Henry shared an inspiring presentation with the students, emphasising the crucial role the agency plays in protecting the environment. This lab will be an invaluable asset, empowering students to excel in STEM and prepare them for future opportunities in these vital fields.
Olympic boxer Aoife O' Rourke officially opened Mercy College Roscommon’s new Fitness Hub on Friday, October 11th. This state-of-the-art gym is an invaluable resource for students, featuring Concept-2 rowing machines, spinning bikes, treadmills and weight training equipment. The Fitness Hub will play a pivotal role in promoting physical activity among students and supporting those studying Leaving Certificate Physical Education, particularly as they complete their Physical Activity Projects and Performance Assessments.
The Home Economics Department in Mercy College Roscommon is delighted to have a newly renovated state of the art fully equipped kitchen comprising ten self-contained units. This supports the culinary elements of the subject. At Junior Cycle 50% is awarded of the overall mark at this level.
The taster programme is experienced by all first-year students of the school. In Transition Year culinary skills is also an integral part of the Transition Year programme. It also supports the coursework Food Studies journal at Senior Cycle, which is 20% of the overall mark. An official opening of the new Home Economics will take place on December 12th next.
