St. Mary’s Diocesan School: Fees, Location & Facts

If you’re researching secondary schools in Drogheda, St. Mary’s Diocesan School is a name that comes up again and again — a Catholic all-boys school with a long local reputation. This guide walks you through where it is, what it costs, and what the ‘diocesan’ label really means, so you can decide if it fits your family.

Roll Number: 63841E · Principal: Catherina McNicholas · Phone: +353 (041) 983 7581 · Ethos: Catholic · Website: stmarysds.ie · Address: Beamore Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth, A92 TF24

The table below summarises key facts about St. Mary’s Diocesan School from official sources.

Where is St. Mary’s Diocesan school?

The school sits on Beamore Road in Drogheda, about a 20-minute walk from the town centre. The full address is Beamore Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth, A92 TF24, and the school website stmarysds.ie lists the contact phone as +353 (041) 983 7581 and email as office@stmarysds.ie. An eTenders procurement notice also confirms the postal address and lists principal@stmarysds.ie as an alternative contact. The local parish website provides the same address with the A92 TF24 postcode.

What is the address of St. Mary’s Diocesan School?

• Beamore Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth, A92 TF24 (school website)
• Contact phone: +353 (041) 983 7581 (school website)

The implication: physical location is well-documented — no confusion about where to find the school.

How to get to St. Mary’s Diocesan School?

Beamore Road is accessible by local bus routes from Drogheda bus station, and there is limited on-street parking. The school itself does not publish specific travel directions, but Google Maps confirms the postcode A92 TF24.

The pattern: location details are consistent across official sources, making navigation straightforward for new families.

What this means: families can rely on consistent location details across sources.

How much are school fees at St. Mary’s?

Fee transparency is an issue. The school’s admission policy for incoming first years 2026 — published on its official website — is explicit: “the school board cannot charge fees or seek payment as a condition of application, admission, or continued enrolment except as permitted under section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.” That means no compulsory tuition fee, but voluntary contributions and administration costs are allowed.

How much does it cost to go to diocesan school?

The same admission policy lists an administration cost of €120 for every subsequent year and a voluntary contribution of €80 per family. So the total known charge is €200 per year per family, but this may not cover other incidental costs.

• Administration fee: €120/year (admission policy PDF)
• Voluntary contribution: €80/family (same PDF)

The catch: the school doesn’t publish an itemised annual fee on its website; families must phone the office for a full breakdown.

What happens if I can’t pay my school fees?

The admission policy states that no child can be refused admission or expelled solely for inability to pay fees. The school “may” offer fee waivers or installment plans for families in need. Contact the principal or office to discuss options.

Which school has the lowest fees?

Among Catholic voluntary secondary schools in the area, St. Mary’s €120 administration cost is relatively low. Private schools in Dublin such as St. Mary’s College Dublin have annual fees exceeding €5,000. The school’s voluntary contribution is also optional in practice.

Are school fees refundable?

Refund policies aren’t published. Best to confirm with the school administration before paying any voluntary contribution or administration fee.

How to pay school fees?

The school’s admission policy mentions that payment can be made by bank transfer or cheque. Contact the office at office@stmarysds.ie for details.

The implication: fee structure is clear for the mandatory parts, but additional costs remain opaque without direct inquiry.

Is St Mary’s Drogheda a secondary school?

Yes — St. Mary’s Diocesan School is a post-primary (secondary) school for boys aged 12–18. The school’s AEN Policy 2026 describes itself as “an all-boys Catholic post-primary school.” It is a voluntary secondary school under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Armagh, not a private school.

Is diocesan school private?

No. A diocesan school is a state-funded Catholic school run by a diocese. St. Mary’s receives government funding and cannot charge compulsory tuition fees. It is distinct from fee-charging private schools like St. Mary’s College Dublin, which is a separate private Catholic school in Rathmines.

Is St. Mary’s College Dublin a private school?

Yes. St. Mary’s College Dublin is a private Catholic fee-paying school. It is not affiliated with St. Mary’s Diocesan School in Drogheda. The similarity in name often causes confusion.

The trade-off: if you’re looking for a low-cost religious education, a diocesan school like St. Mary’s Drogheda is a solid option; if you want the private-school label and facilities, St. Mary’s College Dublin comes with a price tag.

The pattern: state-funded Catholic voluntary schools are often confused with private fee-paying schools, but the legal distinctions are clear.

What does ‘diocesan school’ mean?

A diocesan school is a Catholic school operated under the authority of the local bishop — in this case, the Archbishop of Armagh. The local parish website confirms St. Mary’s Diocesan School is “under the patronage of the Archbishop of Armagh.”

Is a diocesan school the same as a parish school?

Not exactly. A parish school is usually a primary school attached to a specific parish. A diocesan school is a secondary school serving the entire diocese. St. Mary’s is a diocesan school for the Diocese of Armagh.

Who governs a diocesan school?

The school is governed by a board of management appointed by the bishop. Day-to-day management falls to the principal, currently Catherina McNicholas (gov.ie).

Why this matters: the “diocesan” tag means the school follows the religious ethos of the Catholic Church and that the board includes Church representatives — something parents may weigh when considering the school’s values.

The catch: despite the religious label, the school operates within state funding constraints, limiting its ability to charge for extras.

For more on Catholic traditions in Ireland, see Our Lady of Clonfert: 700-year-old statue, shrine, mass times.

What famous people went to St. Mary’s?

No official list of notable alumni from St. Mary’s Diocesan School in Drogheda is available from the school or government directory. The Irish Times feeder-school page does not list notable alumni. This doesn’t mean there aren’t any — the school may simply not publicise them.

Are there notable alumni from St. Mary’s Diocesan School?

Online searches for “St. Mary’s Diocesan School Drogheda alumni” return empty. The school’s Facebook page may occasionally feature past students, but no database exists.

How can I find a list of alumni?

• Contact the school directly at office@stmarysds.ie
• Check the school’s Facebook page for alumni posts

The catch: the absence of a prominent alumni list is typical for a small diocesan school — it doesn’t reflect on the quality of education, just a lack of PR.

School specifications

Six specifications that define St. Mary’s Diocesan School, with one pattern: it’s a standard Catholic voluntary secondary with clear boundaries on fees and gender.

“The school board cannot charge fees or seek payment as a condition of application, admission, or continued enrolment.”

— St. Mary’s Diocesan School Admission Policy 2026

“St. Mary’s Diocesan School is an all-boys Catholic post-primary school.”

— St. Mary’s Diocesan School AEN Policy 2026

“The school is under the patronage of the Archbishop of Armagh.”

— St. Mary’s Drogheda Parish Website

The school’s own documents confirm its religious and governance structure. For families in Drogheda, the trade-off is between a values-based education supported by the Church and the constraints of a state-funded model — notably, no compulsory fees, but reliance on voluntary contributions. For the principal and board, the challenge is maintaining facilities without a full fee schedule. The decision for parents is clear: if you want a Catholic secondary with low out-of-pocket costs and a diocesan link, St. Mary’s fits — but you’ll need to call for specifics.

Related reading: Our Lady of Clonfert: 700-year-old statue, shrine, mass times · Act of Contrition Prayer: Full Text, Versions, and Guide

Frequently asked questions

These answers address the most common queries about St. Mary’s Diocesan School.