Photo: Darren J. Prior · CC BY-SA 4.054 of the 93 schools around Ballymun get extra support for disadvantaged areas
The DEIS programme includes 58% of the schools around Ballymun, above both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). 12 of its 23 secondary schools take only boys or only girls. 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 Ballymun’s schools
Extra support for many schools
Many schools here are in DEIS, which gives schools in disadvantaged areas more teachers, money and help; across Ireland, 30% of schools are. In DEIS: St Mary's Secondary School (830), St Michaels Secondary School (646), Beneavin De La Salle College (585) and Trinity Comprehensive School (564), and 50 more. Who runs them ↓
Mostly single-sex at secondary
Most secondary schools here take only boys or only girls; the mixed ones are marked on the cards below. Single-sex: St Mary's Secondary School (830), Dominican College (799), St Dominics College (790) and St. Aidan's C.B.S. (725), and 8 more. Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Families here can choose among 96 post-primary schools within 10 km of the town, of more than one kind; each admits on its own published policy, so applying to more than one is common. The nearest: Trinity Comprehensive School (0.9 km), Beneavin De La Salle College (1.3 km) and St Kevins College (1.4 km). Post-primary choices ↓
From the Department of Education’s school lists: facts, not judgements of how well a school teaches.
Who runs Ballymun’s schools
Each school’s ethos, 2025/26: the bars show the share of schools of each kind.
74 of Ballymun’s 93 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (51), Le Chéile Schools Trust (7) and Edmund Rice Schools Trust (7). 54 of the 93 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 93 schools in and around Ballymun
Each school in or within 3 km of Ballymun links to a page of its own. Ireland publishes no results school by school, so these cards carry no letters or results.
Show all 62 primary schools
Where the 93 schools in and around Ballymun 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 Ballymun’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 Ballymun
How many schools teach through each language; the tick marks Ireland’s share.
9 of Ballymun’s 93 schools teach every subject through Irish: Scoil an Tseachtar Laoch, Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna and Gaelscoil Ui Earcain.
Who Ballymun’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 Ballymun | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 51% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 8% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 50% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 63% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 0% | 18% | 6% |
51% of the pupils around Ballymun 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 63% against 29%. St Mary's Secondary School, with 830 pupils, is the largest school here in DEIS.
Each of the 93 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.
The 17 patrons of Ballymun’s schools
The patron owns the school and sets its ethos; a board of management runs it day to day.
17 patrons run the 93 schools around Ballymun; the largest, Archbishop of Dublin, has 51 of them and 43% of the pupils. Education and Training Boards run 7 of them. Educate Together runs 4.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinSt Fiachras Sen, Scoil Fhiachra Soisir, Holy Child, Mother of Divine Grace, St Canices G, St Patricks N School, St Brigids Convent, Scoil na Croi Naofa, Corpus Christi, St Columbas Con G & I, St Canices B, S N Mhuire na mBrathar, St Vincents de Paul Junior, St Davids, St Vincent de Paul Senior School, Scoil an Leinbh Iosa Boys Seniors, S N Naomh Finnin, SN an Spioraid Naiomh C, Scoil Mobhi, St. Vincent's Primary School, Holy Spirit B, Our Lady of Victories Infant, Cromcastle Green B, St John of God, S N Naomh Feargal Boys Senior, Bantiarna na mBuanna Girls, Bantiarna na mBuanna Boys, Scoil an Tseachtar Laoch, St Josephs Senior, Virgin Mary Girls, Scoil Nais Ide Cailini, S N na Maighdine Muire B, Dominican Convent Girls Senior School, St Josephs G, St Ciarans Spec Sch, St Brigids Infant, St Catherines Infant School, St Josephs Jnr, St Brigids Senior Girls, St Kevins B, St Malachys, Fionnbarra Naofa B., St Oliver Plunkett, Christ the King B, St Margarets, Christ the King Girls Senior School, St Pauls Hospital Special School, St Josephs for Blind, Christ the King I G, Casa Caterina S S, St Joseph's Adolescent School | Catholic | 51 | 11,605 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustSt Mary's, Dominican College, St Dominics College, St Michaels, Beneavin De La Salle College, Maryfield College, Scoil Chaitriona | Catholic | 7 | 4,700 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustSt. Aidan's C.B.S., St Declan's College, Árdscoil Rís, St. David's College, St Kevins College, St Vincents C.B.S. Glasnevin, Coláiste Mhuire | Catholic | 7 | 3,672 |
| City of Dublin ETBClonturk College, Cabra, Coláiste Eoin, Coolock, Ellenfield, Beaumont Hospital Special School | Multi-denominational, Other | 6 | 1,853 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil Ui Earcain, Gaelscoil Bharra, Gaelscoil Cholmcille, Gaelscoil Áine, Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna | Catholic, Multi-denominational | 5 | 1,009 |
| Educate TogetherGlasnevin Educate Together NS, Grace Park Educate Together, Broombridge Educate Together, Pelletstown ETNS | Multi-denominational | 4 | 1,593 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIFinglas Parochial, Glasnevin, Drumcondra | Church of Ireland | 3 | 258 |
| Minister for EducationTrinity Comprehensive School | Catholic | 1 | 564 |
| Le Chéile Schools Trust & Religious Sisters of CharityNew Cross College | Catholic | 1 | 417 |
| CEISTOur Lady Of Mercy College | Catholic | 1 | 407 |
| Islamic Foundation of IrelandNorth Dublin Muslim | Muslim | 1 | 391 |
| The North Dublin National School ProjectNorth Dublin N.S. Project | Multi-denominational | 1 | 214 |
| City of Dublin ETB & Rosminian FathersRosmini | Inter-denominational | 1 | 139 |
| Minister of Abbey Presbyterian ChurchLindsay Road | Presbyterian | 1 | 95 |
| St Michael's HouseSt Michaels Hse Spec Sc | Catholic | 1 | 64 |
| Scoil Sinéad Company Limited by GuaranteeScoil Sinead NS | Multi-denominational | 1 | 62 |
| CrosscareYouth Encounter Project | Catholic | 1 | 14 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Ballymun
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
Of these 84 schools, 30 have grown by at least 5% since 2019/20 and 37 have lost as much; Ireland’s pupils changed by +5%.
All 84 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.
Inspection reports for Ballymun’s schools
Reports from the Department of Education’s Inspectorate, every school’s linked and none rated
Each school is visited by inspectors from time to time, for a whole-school evaluation of teaching, learning and leadership, for one subject, or to follow up earlier advice, and every report is posted on gov.ie with the school’s response.
The reports describe what inspectors saw and what each school should do next. They give no overall grade, so none is shown here; the 93 schools below each link their own.
Department of Education Inspectorate reports on gov.ie, found by each school’s roll number.
Post-primary schools within reach of Ballymun
Every post-primary school within 10 km of the town; families choose and apply to each, at about twelve
Families in Ballymun have 96 post-primary schools within 10 km: 66 voluntary secondary schools, 19 ETB schools, 9 community schools and 2 comprehensive schools. 36 of them are single-sex, 20 for girls and 16 for boys. Fees are charged at 14 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 3 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 564 | 0.9 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 585 | 1.3 km |
| St Kevins CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 503 | 1.4 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 725 | 2 km |
| St Michaels Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 646 | 2.3 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 2.5 km |
| Clonturk CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 968 | 2.6 km |
| Ellenfield Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 150 | 2.6 km |
| Coláiste EoinETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 257 | 2.7 km |
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 2.7 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 407 | 3.1 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 3.1 km |
All 96 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 3.3 km |
| New Cross CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 417 | 3.4 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 3.4 km |
| Maryfield CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 527 | 3.5 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 3.5 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 3.7 km |
| Coolock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 4 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 4 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 4.1 km |
| St. David's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 550 | 4.1 km |
| Árdscoil RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 563 | 4.4 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 4.6 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 4.6 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 903 | 4.6 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 4.7 km |
| Chanel CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 451 | 4.7 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 4.8 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 5.1 km |
| Mercy College CoolockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 402 | 5.1 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 5.1 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 5.1 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 5.2 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 5.3 km |
| Edmund Rice CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 912 | 5.7 km |
| St Pauls CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 650 | 5.9 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 6.3 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 6.5 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 655 | 6.5 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 6.5 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 6.6 km |
| The Donahies Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 488 | 6.6 km |
| Le Cheile Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 944 | 6.7 km |
| Coláiste ChoilmVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 421 | 6.8 km |
| Belmayne Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 595 | 6.8 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 6.8 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 6.9 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 6.9 km |
| Árdscoil La SalleVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 6.9 km |
| Manor House SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 652 | 7 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 7 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 7.1 km |
| Rath Dara Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 323 | 7.1 km |
| Castleknock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 771 | 7.2 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 7.2 km |
| Malahide & Portmarnock Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 696 | 7.5 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 7.6 km |
| Grange Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 553 | 7.7 km |
| Gaelcholáiste ReachrannETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 453 | 7.7 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 7.8 km |
| Swords Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 952 | 7.8 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 7.8 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 7.9 km |
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 7.9 km |
| Fingal Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 864 | 7.9 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 8 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 8 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 8.1 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 8.1 km |
| St Finians Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 671 | 8.1 km |
| Scoil Phobail Chuil MhinCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,014 | 8.2 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 8.3 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 8.3 km |
| Castleknock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,318 | 8.4 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 8.5 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 8.6 km |
| Blakestown Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 563 | 8.7 km |
| The Kings HospitalVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 732 | 8.7 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 8.7 km |
| Phobailscoil IosoldeCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 764 | 8.8 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 9.1 km |
| Malahide Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,250 | 9.1 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 9.1 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 9.2 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 9.3 km |
| Luttrellstown Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,027 | 9.4 km |
| Pobalscoil NeasáinCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 831 | 9.4 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 9.5 km |
| Hartstown Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,120 | 9.5 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 230 | 9.6 km |
| Portmarnock Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 955 | 9.7 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 9.7 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 9.7 km |
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 9.8 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 9.8 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Ballymun
8 special schools serve the area: St Ciarans Spec Sch, St Michaels Hse Spec Sc, St Pauls Hospital Special School, Beaumont Hospital Special School, Youth Encounter Project, St Josephs for Blind N.S., Casa Caterina S S and St Joseph's Adolescent School, 371 pupils between them. 29 of the 62 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.
Ballymun beside the 53 other Irish towns of 15,600 to 30,100 people
Towns of a similar size, with the schools in or within 3 km of each; ordered by population, never ranked
| Town | People | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ennis | 27,923 | 18 | 7,595 | 1 | 33% | 0.3 km |
| … | ||||||
| Rathmines West | 22,667 | 136 | 39,314 | 9 | 38% | 0 km |
| Letterkenny | 22,549 | 15 | 6,825 | 2 | 20% | 0.4 km |
| Clonsilla | 22,510 | 56 | 29,411 | 3 | 21% | 0.6 km |
| Sandymount | 22,340 | 133 | 40,801 | 10 | 26% | 0.8 km |
| Ballymun | 22,321 | 93 | 27,057 | 9 | 58% | 0.9 km |
| Douglas | 22,029 | 66 | 20,250 | 10 | 20% | 1.8 km |
| Greystones-Delgany | 22,009 | 13 | 7,013 | 1 | 0% | 0.8 km |
| Ballincollig | 21,940 | 28 | 11,989 | 4 | 14% | 0.6 km |
| Wexford | 21,524 | 16 | 6,749 | 1 | 25% | 0.5 km |
| … | ||||||
| Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington-Donacarney | 15,642 | 11 | 5,783 | 1 | 0% | 1.4 km |
Of the other 53 towns, 20 have more pupils at the schools around them than Ballymun. Every one of them has an all-Irish school within 3 km.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Ballymun
Each September’s pupils at every school in or within 3 km of the town, counted where the school stands today.
The schools in and around Ballymun had 26,602 pupils in 2015/16 and 27,057 in 2025/26. Broombridge Educate Together National School grew most: +225% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Ballymun
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 Ballymun
For each nearby town, its schools in or within 3 km of its outline, with straight-line distances.
| Town | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballymun | 93 | 27,057 | 9 | 58% | 0.9 km |
| Dubber 1.6 km | 54 | 15,781 | 5 | 67% | 1.8 km |
| Ballygall 1.7 km | 118 | 32,759 | 10 | 55% | 0.4 km |
| Santry 1.9 km | 64 | 20,947 | 7 | 64% | 1.7 km |
| Whitehall 2 km | 132 | 37,232 | 12 | 61% | 0.2 km |
| Finglas North 2.1 km | 73 | 21,290 | 8 | 62% | 0.7 km |
| Finglas South 2.8 km | 99 | 29,161 | 9 | 57% | 0.5 km |
Whitehall has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 12. Of Ballymun’s neighbours, Finglas North saw the most growth in pupils since 2019/20 (+7%) and Whitehall the least (+0%); Ballymun itself: +4%.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Ballymun 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 Ballymun
How many schools are there in Ballymun?
In Ballymun or within 3 km of it: 62 primary schools, 23 secondary schools and 8 special schools, with 27,057 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Ballymun that teach through Irish?
Yes, 9: Scoil an Tseachtar Laoch, Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna and Gaelscoil Ui Earcain teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Ballymun?
No: all 23 secondary schools here are free.
What is the best school in Ballymun?
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 Ballymun?
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).