Photo: William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland · CC BY-SA 2.073 schools in and around Donaghmede: 50 primary schools, 16 secondary schools and 7 special schools
They have 21,067 pupils between them, in or within 3 km of Donaghmede. Every subject is taught through Irish at 6% of the schools around Donaghmede, below both Co. Dublin’s towns (7%) and Irish towns (8%). Ireland publishes no school results, and the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them, so these schools are described here, never graded or ranked.
Every school in the town or within 3 km of its outline, from the Department of Education’s lists for 2025/26; Ireland’s figures are every school in the lists.
What stands out about Donaghmede’s schools
One school growing fast
The fastest-growing school here is Árdscoil La Salle: 166 pupils in 2019/20, 289 now. Getting a place ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Families here can choose among 75 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: Árdscoil La Salle (0.3 km), The Donahies Community School (0.7 km) and Gaelcholáiste Reachrann (1.3 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 Donaghmede 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 Donaghmede’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 Donaghmede
How many schools teach through each language; the tick marks Ireland’s share.
4 of Donaghmede’s 73 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann and Gaelscoil Mide.
Who Donaghmede’s schools serve
The pupils at the area’s schools by share, 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 Donaghmede | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 33% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 50% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 42% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 0% | 18% | 6% |
Around Donaghmede, 33% of pupils attend a school in DEIS; across Ireland it is 27%, and 28% in Co. Dublin. Where this area differs most from Ireland is post-primary pupils at single-sex schools, at 42% 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 Donaghmede’s schools
Who runs each school, as listed for 2025/26; the bars give the share of schools of each kind.
55 of Donaghmede’s 73 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (43), Educate Together (5) and Le Chéile Schools Trust (4). 28 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 18 patrons of Donaghmede’s schools
Each school has a patron that owns it and sets its ethos; its board of management runs it.
Of the 73 schools around Donaghmede, 43 have Archbishop of Dublin as patron, teaching 52% of the pupils; 18 patrons in all. 6 are ETB schools. Educate Together runs 5.
| 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 Monicas | Catholic | 43 | 11,033 |
| Educate TogetherBelmayne Educate Together, Belmayne Educate Together, Stapolin Educate Together, North Bay Educate Together NS, Killester Raheny Clontarf Educate Together | Multi-denominational | 5 | 1,720 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustManor House School, Holy Faith, St Marys, Árdscoil La Salle | Catholic | 4 | 1,908 |
| St Michael's HouseSt Michael's House Special National School Foxfield, St Michaels House Special School, St Michaels Hse Sp Sch | Multi-denominational, Catholic | 3 | 169 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustSt. Fintan's High School, St. David's College | Catholic | 2 | 1,264 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETBGrange, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann | Inter-denominational | 2 | 1,006 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIS N na Lanai Glasa, Springdale | Church of Ireland | 2 | 483 |
| City of Dublin ETBCoolock, Beaumont Hospital Special School | Multi-denominational, Other | 2 | 214 |
| City of Dublin ETB & Congregation of Christian BrothersPobalscoil Neasáin | Inter-denominational | 1 | 831 |
| Congregation of the Missions (Vincentians)St Pauls College | Catholic | 1 | 650 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Marist FathersThe Donahies | Inter-denominational | 1 | 488 |
| Marist Education AuthorityChanel College | Catholic | 1 | 451 |
| CEISTMercy College Coolock | Catholic | 1 | 402 |
| Religious Sisters of CharitySt Marys | Catholic | 1 | 230 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol | Multi-denominational | 1 | 84 |
| 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 Donaghmede
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
13 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 Donaghmede
Each school in or within 3 km of Donaghmede links to a page of its own. Ireland publishes no school-by-school results, which is why these cards have no letters.
Show all 50 primary schools
Inspection reports for Donaghmede’s schools
Reports from the Department of Education’s Inspectorate, every school’s linked and none rated
The Inspectorate inspects schools in several ways: a whole-school evaluation covers teaching, learning and how the school is led; a subject inspection looks at one subject; a follow-through checks on earlier advice. Reports go on gov.ie with the school’s reply.
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 Donaghmede
Post-primary schools within 10 km of the town; children move at about twelve, and families apply to each school
Within 10 km of Donaghmede there are 75 post-primary schools: 56 voluntary secondary schools, 12 ETB schools, 5 community schools and 2 comprehensive schools. 34 teach girls and boys apart: 17 girls’ and 17 boys’ schools. Fees are charged at 13 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 3 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Árdscoil La SalleVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 0.3 km |
| The Donahies Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 488 | 0.7 km |
| Gaelcholáiste ReachrannETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 453 | 1.3 km |
| Grange Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 553 | 1.3 km |
| Manor House SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 652 | 1.3 km |
| Belmayne Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 595 | 1.5 km |
| Mercy College CoolockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 402 | 2.2 km |
| Pobalscoil NeasáinCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 831 | 2.3 km |
| Chanel CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 451 | 2.6 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 230 | 2.6 km |
| St Pauls CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 650 | 2.6 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 2.7 km |
All 75 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Fintan's High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 714 | 3.1 km |
| Coolock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 3.3 km |
| St. David's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 550 | 3.6 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 3.9 km |
| Santa Sabina Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 754 | 4.3 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 407 | 4.4 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 903 | 4.5 km |
| Árdscoil RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 563 | 4.8 km |
| Maryfield CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 527 | 4.9 km |
| Sutton Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 503 | 5 km |
| Portmarnock Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 955 | 5 km |
| Ellenfield Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 150 | 5 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 5.2 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 5.4 km |
| Malahide Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,250 | 5.5 km |
| Clonturk CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 968 | 5.6 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 725 | 5.8 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 5.8 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 5.9 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 6.4 km |
| Trinity Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 564 | 6.5 km |
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 6.7 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 6.7 km |
| Malahide & Portmarnock Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 696 | 6.8 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 7 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 7.3 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 7.4 km |
| St Kevins CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 503 | 7.5 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 7.5 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 7.5 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 7.6 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 7.7 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 8 km |
| Coláiste ChoilmVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 421 | 8.1 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 585 | 8.1 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 8.4 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 8.5 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 8.5 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 8.5 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 8.6 km |
| Fingal Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 864 | 8.6 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 8.8 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 8.9 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 655 | 9 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 9 km |
| St Michaels Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 646 | 9.1 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 9.1 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 9.3 km |
| St Finians Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 671 | 9.3 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 9.3 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 9.4 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 9.5 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 9.5 km |
| Willow Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 206 | 9.5 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 9.6 km |
| Coláiste EoinETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 257 | 9.6 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 9.6 km |
| St Andrews CollegeVoluntary secondary · Presbyterian | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 9.7 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 9.7 km |
| Blackrock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 1,041 | 9.7 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 9.8 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 9.9 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 521 | 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 Donaghmede
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, St Michaels House Special School, Central Remedial Clinic and Beaumont Hospital Special School, 312 pupils between them. 27 of the 50 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.
Donaghmede beside the 87 other Irish towns of 6,700 to 13,000 people
Schools in or within 3 km of each town, by population; none is ranked, as Ireland publishes no results
| Town | People | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fettercairn | 12,970 | 72 | 25,995 | 8 | 50% | 0.6 km |
| … | ||||||
| Kilmore | 9,786 | 110 | 32,817 | 10 | 42% | 0.6 km |
| Killiney | 9,776 | 45 | 13,019 | 1 | 31% | 0.7 km |
| Donabate | 9,669 | 6 | 2,087 | 1 | 0% | 0.3 km |
| Tuam | 9,647 | 8 | 3,460 | 1 | 25% | 0.3 km |
| Donaghmede | 9,616 | 73 | 21,067 | 4 | 38% | 0.3 km |
| Grantstown and Ballinakill | 9,571 | 31 | 11,459 | 2 | 36% | 2.1 km |
| Trim | 9,563 | 7 | 3,065 | 1 | 14% | 0.5 km |
| Glasnevin | 9,299 | 145 | 39,626 | 10 | 59% | 0.5 km |
| Portarlington | 9,288 | 5 | 2,657 | 0 | 0% | 1.3 km |
| … | ||||||
| Santry | 6,710 | 64 | 20,947 | 7 | 64% | 1.7 km |
More pupils attend the schools around 37 of the other 87 towns than around Donaghmede. Teaching through Irish is on offer within 3 km in 85 of the 88.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Donaghmede
Pupils every September at the schools in or within 3 km of the town, each counted at today’s site.
The schools in and around Donaghmede had 21,842 pupils in 2015/16 and 21,067 in 2025/26, fewer than before. Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School grew most: +1,883% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Donaghmede
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 Donaghmede
Schools in or within 3 km of each neighbouring town; distances in a straight line.
Ayrfield has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 5. Of Donaghmede’s neighbours, Sutton saw the most growth in pupils since 2019/20 (+5%) and Edenmore the least (+2%); Donaghmede itself: +2%.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Donaghmede 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 Donaghmede
How many schools are there in Donaghmede?
In Donaghmede or within 3 km of it: 50 primary schools, 16 secondary schools and 7 special schools, with 21,067 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Donaghmede that teach through Irish?
Yes, 4: Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann and Gaelscoil Mide teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Donaghmede?
No: all 16 secondary schools here are free.
What is the best school in Donaghmede?
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 Donaghmede?
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).