Located within the grounds of Mount St. Joseph Abbey in County Offaly, Ireland, 2.5 miles west of Roscrea town, the school is managed by monks of the Trappist branch of the Cistercians.

Surrounded by open wooded countryside and thirty acres of grounds and sports fields, it also adjoins the abbey's farm of 360 hectares.

CCR is one of two monastic schools in Ireland and in 1990 a Board of Governors was appointed by the Abbot to govern the administration of the college.

In February 2017 it was announced that the school would cease taking new enrollments due to financial difficulties caused by falling student numbers.

However, following a public meeting attended by over 300 people, an action group made up of parents and past pupils was formed.

Progress was made,[5] and on 16 March 2017 it was announced that the school would remain open after funding was secured by past pupils and parents.

The school has produced professional rugby players, county hurlers and representatives on the Irish athletics team including in hammer and hurdles.

Horse riding is also undertaken in the college as well as show jumping, where students have represented the country at international competitions.

[citation needed] Irish, English and German-language debating teams compete each year from Cistercian College.