Photo: Harold Strong · CC BY-SA 2.073 schools in and around Ayrfield: 52 primary schools, 14 secondary schools and 7 special schools
They have 20,467 pupils between them, in or within 3 km of Ayrfield. Nothing here grades or ranks these schools: Ireland publishes no results school by school, and the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them.
Schools in the town or within 3 km of its outline, Department of Education lists for 2025/26; the Ireland figures cover all schools listed.
What stands out about Ayrfield’s schools
A wide choice at twelve
Within 10 km of the town there are 74 post-primary schools to choose from, of different kinds; each sets its own admission policy, and many families apply to several. The nearest: The Donahies Community School (0.6 km), Árdscoil La Salle (1.1 km) and Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School (1.2 km). Post-primary choices ↓
Facts from the Department of Education’s lists; nothing here judges how well a school teaches.
Where the 73 schools in and around Ayrfield are
Each school where the official list places it, shaded by who runs it and sized by pupils; squares are secondary schools, triangles special schools. The dashed shape is Ayrfield’s outline; schools within 3 km of it count.
Places from the Department of Education’s school lists (its own coordinates for all but a handful); map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Teaching through Irish in and around Ayrfield
The schools by teaching language, with Ireland’s share as the black tick.
5 of Ayrfield’s 73 schools teach every subject through Irish: Scoil Neasain, Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol and Gaelcholáiste Reachrann.
Who Ayrfield’s schools serve
Shares of the pupils at the area’s schools, beside Co. Dublin’s and Ireland’s, 2025/26
Each bar is the area’s share; the tick marks Ireland’s.
DEIS by stage: pupils at DEIS schools
| Share of pupils | Around Ayrfield | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 36% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 50% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 36% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 0% | 18% | 6% |
36% of the pupils around Ayrfield are at a DEIS school, more than the 27% across Ireland (28% in Co. Dublin). Where this area differs most from Ireland is post-primary pupils at single-sex schools, at 36% against 29%. Grange Community College, with 553 pupils, is the largest school here in DEIS.
Each of the 73 schools
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary): enrolments by sex and the DEIS list. Shares are of pupils, not of schools; a county’s are the schools listed with its towns.
Who runs Ayrfield’s schools
Each school’s ethos, 2025/26: the bars show the share of schools of each kind.
55 of Ayrfield’s 73 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (44), Educate Together (6) and Le Chéile Schools Trust (3). 29 of the 73 are in DEIS, the extra support for schools in disadvantaged areas (30% across Ireland).
Department of Education school lists: ethos 2025/26, patron 2024/25 (the 2025/26 lists don’t give it). DEIS list 2025/26.
The 17 patrons of Ayrfield’s schools
The patron owns the school and sets its ethos; a board of management runs it day to day.
Archbishop of Dublin is patron of 44 of the 73 schools around Ayrfield, which teach 54% of their pupils; 17 patrons run them in all. The local Education and Training Board runs 6. Educate Together runs 6.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinSt Fiachras Sen, Scoil Fhiachra Soisir, St. Francis of Assisi, St Laurence's, Holy Trinity Sen, S.N. Muire agus Iosef, S.N. Eoin Baisde Girls Senior, St Brigids Convent, Scoil Bhride, S.N. Eoin Baisde Boys Senior School, Our Lady of Consolation, St Davids, Mhuire Iosef Junior, Scoil Aine Convent Senior, Naiscoil Ide, St Josephs, Eoin Baisde B Sois, Scoil Assaim Boys Seniors, St Brigids Boys, Scoil Neasain, St Pauls Sen, Gaelscoil Mide, Scoil Naomh Colmcille, Eoin Baisde C Naoidh, St Pauls Junior, St Francis Senior, S.N. Caitriona Girls, Cromcastle Green B, Our Lady Immac Sen, St John of God, San Nioclas Myra, S.N. Caitriona Naionain, St Benedicts and St Marys, St Francis Junior, Darndale N.S. Junior, Scoil Nais Ide Cailini, Scoil Chiarain, St Kevins Junior, Scoil Eoin, Scoil Bhreandain, St Malachys B, St Eithnes Senior Girls, St Pauls Hospital Special School, St Monicas | Catholic | 44 | 11,087 |
| Educate TogetherBelmayne Educate Together, Belmayne Educate Together, Malahide / Portmarnock Educate Together, Stapolin Educate Together, North Bay Educate Together NS, Killester Raheny Clontarf Educate Together | Multi-denominational | 6 | 2,097 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustManor House School, St Marys, Árdscoil La Salle | Catholic | 3 | 1,261 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETBGrange, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann | Inter-denominational | 2 | 1,006 |
| CEISTOur Lady Of Mercy College, Mercy College Coolock | Catholic | 2 | 809 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIS N na Lanai Glasa, Springdale | Church of Ireland | 2 | 483 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil Cholmcille, Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol | Catholic, Multi-denominational | 2 | 293 |
| City of Dublin ETBCoolock, Beaumont Hospital Special School | Multi-denominational, Other | 2 | 214 |
| St Michael's HouseSt Michael's House Special National School Foxfield, St Michaels Hse Sp Sch | Multi-denominational, Catholic | 2 | 113 |
| City of Dublin ETB & Congregation of Christian BrothersPobalscoil Neasáin | Inter-denominational | 1 | 831 |
| Congregation of the Missions (Vincentians)St Pauls College | Catholic | 1 | 650 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustSt. David's College | Catholic | 1 | 550 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Marist FathersThe Donahies | Inter-denominational | 1 | 488 |
| Marist Education AuthorityChanel College | Catholic | 1 | 451 |
| Central Remedial ClinicCentral Remedial Clinic | Catholic | 1 | 78 |
| Irish Autism ActionABACAS Kilbarrack | Multi-denominational | 1 | 54 |
| patron not listedBelmayne Community Special School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 2 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Ayrfield
Starting primary school
Children can start primary school once they are four, and must be in school by six. Families apply to each school directly. Every school publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice; a school with more applicants than places admits on the criteria in its policy. Since the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, a Catholic or other majority-faith primary school can’t put baptised children first; a school of a minority faith still can, to keep its ethos.
Moving to secondary school
Children move to post-primary school at about twelve, after sixth class. Again, families apply to each school, usually a year or more ahead, and an oversubscribed school admits on its published criteria, often brothers and sisters and its feeder primary schools.
Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; each school’s admission policy and notice are on its own website.
Which schools are growing
15 schools here have grown by 5% or more since 2019/20, 33 have shrunk by as much, out of 63; across Ireland: +5%.
All 63 schools
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September, 2019/20 and 2025/26 (preliminary). No capacity is published, so how full a school is can’t be shown.
The 73 schools in and around Ayrfield
Here are the schools in Ayrfield or within 3 km of it, every one with its own page. No letters, no results: Irish schools aren’t ranked one by one.
Show all 52 primary schools
Inspection reports for Ayrfield’s schools
Reports from the Department of Education’s Inspectorate, every school’s linked and none rated
Reports come from whole-school evaluations (teaching, learning, leadership and management), subject inspections and follow-through visits that check earlier advice; gov.ie publishes each one with the school’s response.
Reports say what inspectors found and what should improve, without an overall grade, so none appears here; each of the 73 schools below links its own.
Department of Education Inspectorate reports on gov.ie, found by each school’s roll number.
Post-primary schools within reach of Ayrfield
All post-primaries within 10 km; at about twelve, families choose and apply school by school
Families in Ayrfield have 74 post-primary schools within 10 km: 54 voluntary secondary schools, 13 ETB schools, 5 community schools and 2 comprehensive schools. Of these, 32 are single-sex: 16 for girls and 16 for boys. Fees are charged at 11 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 3 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Donahies Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 488 | 0.6 km |
| Árdscoil La SalleVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 1.1 km |
| Belmayne Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 595 | 1.2 km |
| Mercy College CoolockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 402 | 1.5 km |
| Chanel CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 451 | 1.7 km |
| Grange Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 553 | 1.8 km |
| Gaelcholáiste ReachrannETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 453 | 1.8 km |
| Manor House SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 652 | 1.9 km |
| Coolock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 2.1 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 2.2 km |
| St Pauls CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 650 | 2.5 km |
| St. David's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 550 | 2.8 km |
All 74 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady Of Mercy CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 407 | 3.4 km |
| Pobalscoil NeasáinCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 831 | 3.4 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 230 | 3.6 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 903 | 4 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 4 km |
| Ellenfield Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 150 | 4.1 km |
| Maryfield CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 527 | 4.1 km |
| Árdscoil RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 563 | 4.2 km |
| St. Fintan's High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 714 | 4.3 km |
| Clonturk CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 968 | 4.7 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 4.7 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 725 | 4.8 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 4.9 km |
| Portmarnock Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 955 | 5 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 5 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 5.1 km |
| Malahide Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,250 | 5.2 km |
| Trinity Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 564 | 5.4 km |
| Santa Sabina Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 754 | 5.5 km |
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 5.8 km |
| Malahide & Portmarnock Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 696 | 6 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 6.1 km |
| Sutton Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 503 | 6.2 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 6.3 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 6.4 km |
| St Kevins CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 503 | 6.4 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 6.9 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 6.9 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 6.9 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 585 | 7 km |
| Coláiste ChoilmVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 421 | 7 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 7.2 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 7.3 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 7.5 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 7.5 km |
| Fingal Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 864 | 7.7 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 655 | 7.8 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 7.9 km |
| St Michaels Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 646 | 8 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 8 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 8.1 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 8.1 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 8.3 km |
| St Finians Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 671 | 8.3 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 8.4 km |
| Coláiste EoinETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 257 | 8.5 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 8.6 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 8.6 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 8.6 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 8.7 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 8.7 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 8.9 km |
| Swords Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 952 | 9.1 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 9.1 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 9.1 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 9.3 km |
| New Cross CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 417 | 9.3 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 9.4 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 9.4 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 9.4 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 9.8 km |
| Willow Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 206 | 9.9 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Ayrfield
7 special schools serve the area: St Michaels Hse Sp Sch, Belmayne Community Special School, St Michael's House Special National School Foxfield, ABACAS Kilbarrack, Beaumont Hospital Special School, St Pauls Hospital Special School and Central Remedial Clinic, 310 pupils between them. 27 of the 52 primary schools have special classes for children who need more support. Their cards ↑
Special schools and primary schools with special classes as the Department lists them; the National Council for Special Education places pupils in special classes.
Ayrfield beside the 99 other Irish towns of 4,100 to 7,900 people
Each town’s schools in or within 3 km, listed by population: Ireland publishes no results, so none is ranked
| Town | People | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monaghan | 7,894 | 11 | 3,968 | 2 | 36% | 0.2 km |
| … | ||||||
| The Glen | 6,119 | 66 | 19,000 | 5 | 50% | 0.5 km |
| Passage West-Monkstown | 6,051 | 16 | 4,438 | 0 | 6% | 0.1 km |
| Kinsale | 5,991 | 5 | 2,264 | 1 | 0% | 0.5 km |
| Glasheen | 5,981 | 66 | 21,351 | 6 | 50% | 1.1 km |
| Ayrfield | 5,863 | 73 | 20,467 | 5 | 40% | 0.6 km |
| Gillabbey | 5,857 | 72 | 22,124 | 6 | 50% | 0.7 km |
| Ballinfoile and Terryland | 5,851 | 33 | 11,082 | 5 | 33% | 1.5 km |
| Oranmore | 5,819 | 8 | 3,669 | 1 | 13% | 0.4 km |
| Rathcoole | 5,792 | 11 | 5,371 | 2 | 9% | 0.5 km |
| … | ||||||
| Grange | 4,109 | 32 | 12,776 | 3 | 41% | 1.3 km |
Of these 99 other towns, 26 count more pupils at their schools than Ayrfield. Teaching through Irish is on offer within 3 km in 87 of the 100.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Ayrfield
Every school in or within 3 km of the town each September, counted where it stands today.
The schools in and around Ayrfield had 20,876 pupils in 2015/16 and 20,467 in 2025/26, fewer than before. Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School grew most: +1,883% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Ayrfield
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year, 2015/16 to 2025/26 (preliminary), for every school placed in the area today; schools that have since closed or merged count where they stood.
Schools in the towns around Ayrfield
Schools in or within 3 km of each neighbouring town; distances in a straight line.
| Town | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayrfield | 73 | 20,467 | 5 | 40% | 0.6 km |
| Edenmore 0.8 km | 71 | 20,216 | 5 | 41% | 0.9 km |
| Belmayne 1.1 km | 63 | 17,963 | 5 | 40% | 0.2 km |
| Donaghmede 1.3 km | 73 | 21,067 | 4 | 38% | 0.3 km |
| Darndale 1.4 km | 85 | 23,703 | 7 | 49% | 1 km |
| Harmonstown 1.5 km | 84 | 25,004 | 5 | 39% | 0.4 km |
| Raheny 1.9 km | 70 | 21,242 | 4 | 34% | 0.9 km |
Darndale has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 7. Pupils around Ayrfield: +2% since 2019/20. Among the neighbours, Harmonstown led (+4%) and Donaghmede trailed (+2%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Ayrfield or within 3 km of its outline, as the Department places it: families here use them. Schools further out are on the map of each school’s own page.
- The kinds of school. Primary schools take children from junior infants to sixth class, about ages 4 to 12. Post-primary schools teach the Junior and Leaving Certificate, about ages 12 to 18: voluntary secondary schools (mostly with a religious patron), ETB schools and community colleges run by an Education and Training Board, and community and comprehensive schools. Special schools teach children with particular needs.
- Teaching through Irish. All-Irish: every subject taught through Irish, in the Gaeltacht or, outside it, a Gaelscoil or Gaelcholáiste. Partly in Irish: an Irish stream (some classes entirely through Irish) or some subjects through Irish. Every other school teaches Irish as a subject.
- DEIS. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) gives schools serving disadvantaged areas more teachers, money and support; the Department decides which schools are in it.
- Ethos and patron. Most Irish schools are owned by a patron, mostly a church; the patron sets the school’s ethos. Multi-denominational schools (Educate Together, many ETB schools) teach children of every faith and none together.
- No grade. Section 53 of the Education Act 1998 lets the Minister refuse to release information that would allow schools’ exam results to be compared, and no results are published school by school. So Ireland’s schools have no letters and its towns no School Grade; nothing on this page ranks them.
- What isn’t here. What the UK and French pages show from results, these can’t: results charts, results against pupils’ backgrounds and towns ranked by their schools (no published results), and how full each school is (no capacity is published). Every post-primary school teaches to the Leaving Certificate, so there is no sixth-form split to show.
- Inspections. The Inspectorate’s reports are linked from each school’s page. They give no overall grade, so none is shown.
- The year. The 2025/26 lists are the Department’s preliminary release; numbers can change a little in the final lists.
Questions about schools in Ayrfield
How many schools are there in Ayrfield?
In Ayrfield or within 3 km of it: 52 primary schools, 14 secondary schools and 7 special schools, with 20,467 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Ayrfield that teach through Irish?
Yes, 5: Scoil Neasain, Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol and Gaelcholáiste Reachrann teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Ayrfield?
No: all 14 secondary schools here are free.
What is the best school in Ayrfield?
We don’t say. Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them; a ranking would rest on guesses. Each school’s page has its own facts and a link to its inspection reports, and visiting the schools you are weighing is still the best guide.
How do I get a place at a school in Ayrfield?
Apply to each school directly: every school publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice with its dates. If it has more applicants than places, it admits on the criteria in its policy.
Sources: Department of Education, school lists 2025/26 (preliminary) and enrolments since 2015/16, CC BY 4.0 · one school placed with OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).