Photo: Amakuru · CC BY-SA 4.0Dún Laoghaire has 7 fee-paying secondary schools in and around it
Girls and boys are taught apart at 63% of the post-primaries around Dún Laoghaire, above both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (39%). 10 of its 16 secondary schools take only boys or only girls. 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 Dún Laoghaire’s schools
Fee-paying secondary schools
Several of the secondary schools within reach charge fees; the others are free. Fee-paying schools are listed with the rest below, each with its own page. Fee-paying: Blackrock College (1,041), Loreto Abbey Secondary School (757), Loreto College Foxrock (660) and Christian Brothers College (549), and 3 more. Every school ↓
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: Blackrock College (1,041), Loreto Abbey Secondary School (757), Loreto College Foxrock (660) and St Raphaela's Secondary School (637), and 6 more. Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
58 post-primary schools lie within 10 km, so families here have a real choice at twelve; each admits on its own policy. The nearest: Christian Brothers College (0.8 km), Holy Child Community School (1.3 km) and Rathdown School (1.3 km). Post-primary choices ↓
Facts from the Department of Education’s lists; nothing here judges how well a school teaches.
The 52 schools in and around Dún Laoghaire
Here are the schools in Dún Laoghaire or within 3 km of it, every one with its own page. Without school-level results from Ireland, the cards show no letters.
Show all 30 primary schools
Where the 52 schools in and around Dún Laoghaire 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 Dún Laoghaire’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 Dún Laoghaire
How many schools teach through each language; the tick marks Ireland’s share.
1 of Dún Laoghaire’s 52 schools teach every subject through Irish: Scoil Lorcáin.
Who Dún Laoghaire’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 Dún Laoghaire | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 14% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 3% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 53% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 70% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 46% | 18% | 6% |
Fewer of the pupils around Dún Laoghaire are at DEIS schools than across Ireland: 14% against 27% (Co. Dublin: 28%). The biggest difference from Ireland is in post-primary pupils at single-sex schools: 70% here, 29% there. Of the DEIS schools here, Cabinteely Community School is the biggest: 512 pupils.
Each of the 52 schools
| School | Pupils | Girls | DEIS | All-Irish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Harold SchoolPrimary | 642 | 51% | ||
| Christian Brothers CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 549 | 0% | ||
| Clochar San DominicPrimary | 184 | 50% | ✓ | |
| Dun Laoghaire ETNSPrimary | 177 | 51% | ||
| Holy Family SchoolPrimary | 149 | 50% | ✓ | |
| Carmona Special National SchoolSpecial | 37 | 35% | ||
| Red Door Special SchoolSpecial | 29 | 21% | ||
| St Oliver Plunkett Sp ScSpecial | 63 | 40% | ||
| Rathdown SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 364 | 69% | ||
| Monkstown Eucate Together NSPrimary | 415 | 51% | ||
| St JosephsPrimary | 370 | 45% | ✓ | |
| Rockford Manor Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 273 | 100% | ||
| Kill-O'-The-Grange N.S.Primary | 208 | 53% | ||
| Sallynoggin Educate Together National SchoolPrimary | 46 | 33% | ||
| Dalkey School ProjectPrimary | 220 | 45% | ||
| Holy Child Community SchoolPost-primary · Community school | 275 | 44% | ✓ | |
| St Kevins N.S.Primary | 229 | 41% | ✓ | |
| Dalkey N.S. (2)Primary | 101 | 41% | ||
| St Joseph Of Cluny Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 270 | 93% | ||
| Our Lady of Lourdes SchoolSpecial | 6 | 50% | ||
| Loreto National SchoolPrimary | 314 | 76% | ||
| Scoil LorcáinPrimary | 485 | 50% | ✓ | |
| S N Gleann na gCaorach Iníon LéinínPrimary | 211 | 52% | ||
| Harold Boys N.S.Primary | 106 | 0% | ||
| Newpark Comprehensive SchoolPost-primary · Comprehensive | 884 | 47% | ||
| Loreto Abbey Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 757 | 100% | ||
| Scoil na nAingealPrimary | 410 | 48% | ||
| Scoil Padraig Naofa BPrimary | 499 | 0% | ||
| St Patricks GNSPrimary | 478 | 100% | ||
| Clonkeen CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 635 | 0% | ||
| All Saints N.S.Primary | 51 | 41% | ||
| St Augustines SchoolSpecial | 157 | 42% | ||
| St Brigids Boys N.S.Primary | 406 | 0% | ||
| Loreto College FoxrockPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 660 | 100% | ||
| Our Lady of Good Counsel Boys N.S.Primary | 389 | 0% | ||
| Our Lady Good Counsel GNSPrimary | 398 | 97% | ||
| Carysfort N.S.Primary | 583 | 57% | ||
| Cabinteely Community SchoolPost-primary · Community school | 512 | 44% | ✓ | |
| St Brigids Girls N.S.Primary | 499 | 100% | ||
| Benincasa Special SchoolSpecial | 35 | 9% | ||
| St Johns N.S.Primary | 165 | 41% | ✓ | |
| St Brigids N.S.Primary | 100 | 44% | ||
| Dominican CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 521 | 100% | ||
| Scoil Colmcille SeniorPrimary | 147 | 49% | ✓ | |
| Scoil Cholmcille Junior N.S.Primary | 124 | 52% | ✓ | |
| Booterstown N.S.Primary | 85 | 54% | ||
| Holy Child KillineyPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 382 | 100% | ||
| Blackrock CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 1,041 | 0% | ||
| Oatlands CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 623 | 0% | ||
| St Raphaelas N.S.Primary | 375 | 100% | ||
| St Raphaela's Secondary SchoolPost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 637 | 100% | ||
| St Laurence CollegePost-primary · Voluntary secondary | 302 | 50% | ✓ |
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 Dún Laoghaire’s schools
Who runs each school, as listed for 2025/26; the bars give the share of schools of each kind.
36 of Dún Laoghaire’s 52 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (23), Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COI (6) and Le Chéile Schools Trust (4). 10 of the 52 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 Dún Laoghaire’s schools
The patron owns the school and sets its ethos; a board of management runs it day to day.
18 patrons run the 52 schools around Dún Laoghaire; the largest, Archbishop of Dublin, has 23 of them and 41% of the pupils. Education and Training Boards run 3 of them. Educate Together runs 3.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinThe Harold School, Carysfort, Scoil Padraig Naofa B, St Brigids Girls, Scoil Lorcáin, St Patricks GNS, Scoil na nAingeal, St Brigids Boys, Our Lady Good Counsel GNS, Our Lady of Good Counsel Boys, St Raphaelas, St Josephs, Loreto, St Kevins, Clochar San Dominic, St Johns, St Augustines School, Holy Family School, Scoil Colmcille Senior, Scoil Cholmcille Junior, Harold Boys, St Oliver Plunkett Sp Sc, Benincasa Special School | Catholic | 23 | 7,207 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIS N Gleann na gCaorach Iníon Léinín, Kill-O'-The-Grange, Dalkey N.S., St Brigids, Booterstown, All Saints | Church of Ireland | 6 | 756 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustDominican College, Holy Child Killiney, St Laurence College, St Joseph Of Cluny | Catholic | 4 | 1,475 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustClonkeen College, Oatlands College, Christian Brothers College | Catholic | 3 | 1,807 |
| Loreto Education TrustLoreto Abbey, Loreto College Foxrock | Catholic | 2 | 1,417 |
| Educate TogetherDun Laoghaire ETNS, Sallynoggin Educate Together | Multi-denominational | 2 | 223 |
| The Spiritan Education TrustBlackrock College | Catholic | 1 | 1,041 |
| Minister for EducationNewpark Comprehensive School | Church of Ireland | 1 | 884 |
| Handmaids of the Sacred HeartSt Raphaela's | Catholic | 1 | 637 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Archbishop of DublinCabinteely | Inter-denominational | 1 | 512 |
| The Dalkey School Project & Educate TogetherMonkstown Eucate Together NS | Multi-denominational | 1 | 415 |
| Board of Governors of Rathdown SchoolRathdown School | Church of Ireland | 1 | 364 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Society of the Holy Child JesusHoly Child | Inter-denominational | 1 | 275 |
| CEISTRockford Manor | Catholic | 1 | 273 |
| The Dalkey School ProjectDalkey School Project | Multi-denominational | 1 | 220 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & St John of God Hospitaller OrderCarmona Special | Catholic | 1 | 37 |
| Irish Autism ActionRed Door Special School | Other | 1 | 29 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETBOur Lady of Lourdes School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 6 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Dún Laoghaire
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. The 7 fee-paying schools here set their own fees and admissions.
Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; each school’s admission policy and notice are on its own website.
Which schools are growing
Since 2019/20, 16 of these 45 schools have grown by 5% or more and 18 have shrunk as much; across Ireland the number of pupils changed by +5%.
All 45 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 Dún Laoghaire’s schools
The Department of Education’s Inspectorate: every school’s reports linked, 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 52 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 Dún Laoghaire
Every post-primary school within 10 km of the town; families choose and apply to each, at about twelve
Within 10 km of Dún Laoghaire there are 58 post-primary schools: 51 voluntary secondary schools, 4 community schools, 2 ETB schools and one comprehensive school. Of these, 28 are single-sex: 17 for girls and 11 for boys. Fees are charged at 28 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 4 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 549 | 0.8 km |
| Holy Child Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 275 | 1.3 km |
| Rathdown SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 364 | 1.3 km |
| Rockford Manor Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 273 | 1.8 km |
| St Joseph Of Cluny Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 270 | 2.1 km |
| Clonkeen CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 635 | 2.5 km |
| Newpark Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 884 | 2.5 km |
| Loreto Abbey Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 757 | 2.6 km |
| Cabinteely Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 512 | 3 km |
| Loreto College FoxrockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 660 | 3.2 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 521 | 3.9 km |
| Blackrock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 1,041 | 4 km |
All 58 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Laurence CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 302 | 4.1 km |
| Holy Child KillineyVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 382 | 4.1 km |
| Willow Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 206 | 4.4 km |
| Oatlands CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 623 | 4.5 km |
| St Raphaela's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 637 | 4.7 km |
| St Andrews CollegeVoluntary secondary · Presbyterian | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 4.8 km |
| Coláiste ÍosagáinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Gaelcholáiste | 488 | 4.8 km |
| Coláiste EoinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Gaelcholáiste | 517 | 4.9 km |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 741 | 4.9 km |
| Blackrock Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 236 | 4.9 km |
| St Benildus CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 949 | 5.7 km |
| Mount Anville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 726 | 5.8 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 6.4 km |
| St Kilian's Deutsche SchuleVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 475 | 6.4 km |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 366 | 6.5 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 295 | 6.7 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 6.8 km |
| St. Tiernan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 368 | 6.9 km |
| Rosemont SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 307 | 6.9 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 7.2 km |
| Wesley CollegeVoluntary secondary · Methodist | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 942 | 7.2 km |
| John Scottus Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 211 | 7.8 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 7.9 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 8 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 8 km |
| Woodbrook CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 623 | 8.1 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 8.2 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 8.2 km |
| Ballinteer Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 415 | 8.3 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 8.5 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 8.5 km |
| De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 463 | 8.6 km |
| Coláiste RaithínETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 326 | 8.9 km |
| North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 324 | 9 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 9 km |
| St Columba's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 357 | 9.2 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 9.3 km |
| St. Gerard's SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 623 | 9.4 km |
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 9.5 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 9.6 km |
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 296 | 9.6 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 9.7 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 9.7 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 9.7 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 9.7 km |
| Loreto High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 625 | 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 Dún Laoghaire
6 special schools serve the area: Carmona Special National School, Red Door Special School, St Oliver Plunkett Sp Sc, Our Lady of Lourdes School, St Augustines School and Benincasa Special School, 327 pupils between them. 11 of the 30 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.
Dún Laoghaire beside the 76 other Irish towns of 12,600 to 24,300 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portlaoise | 23,494 | 13 | 6,518 | 1 | 15% | 0.6 km |
| … | ||||||
| Clonmel | 18,369 | 13 | 4,235 | 1 | 23% | 0.4 km |
| Carrigaline | 18,239 | 12 | 4,439 | 2 | 8% | 0.5 km |
| Stillorgan | 18,212 | 81 | 32,574 | 8 | 7% | 0.4 km |
| Templeogue | 18,076 | 118 | 40,646 | 8 | 34% | 0.5 km |
| Dún Laoghaire | 17,994 | 52 | 17,578 | 1 | 19% | 0.8 km |
| Rathfarnham | 17,508 | 111 | 39,391 | 10 | 22% | 0.3 km |
| Maynooth | 17,259 | 12 | 6,742 | 3 | 0% | 0.3 km |
| Rathmines East | 16,923 | 135 | 41,393 | 12 | 36% | 0.2 km |
| Leixlip | 16,733 | 29 | 13,767 | 1 | 0% | 0.4 km |
| … | ||||||
| Ballsbridge | 12,743 | 116 | 31,567 | 9 | 42% | 0.7 km |
Of the other 76 towns, 46 have more pupils at the schools around them than Dún Laoghaire. 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 Dún Laoghaire
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 Dún Laoghaire had 18,756 pupils in 2015/16 and 17,578 in 2025/26, fewer than before. Dun Laoghaire ETNS grew most: +185% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Dún Laoghaire
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 Dún Laoghaire
Each town’s schools in or within 3 km of its outline; distances as the crow flies.
| Town | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dún Laoghaire | 52 | 17,578 | 1 | 19% | 0.8 km |
| Sallynoggin 0.9 km | 51 | 15,036 | 2 | 24% | 0.6 km |
| Monkstown 2 km | 57 | 22,012 | 4 | 11% | 0.3 km |
| Dalkey 2.1 km | 43 | 12,331 | 1 | 28% | 0.9 km |
| Foxrock 3.1 km | 80 | 28,450 | 7 | 18% | 0.8 km |
| Blackrock 3.2 km | 66 | 25,764 | 6 | 11% | 0.8 km |
| Ballybrack 3.2 km | 41 | 11,728 | 1 | 29% | 0.9 km |
Foxrock has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 7. The roll around Dún Laoghaire moved +2% since 2019/20; nearby, Blackrock grew most (+7%) and Monkstown least (+4%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Dún Laoghaire 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 Dún Laoghaire
How many schools are there in Dún Laoghaire?
In Dún Laoghaire or within 3 km of it: 30 primary schools, 16 secondary schools and 6 special schools, with 17,578 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Dún Laoghaire that teach through Irish?
Yes, 1: Scoil Lorcáin teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Dún Laoghaire?
7 of the 16: Christian Brothers College, Rathdown School, St Joseph Of Cluny Secondary School and Loreto Abbey Secondary School. The others are free.
What is the best school in Dún Laoghaire?
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 Dún Laoghaire?
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).