Photo: JP · CC BY-SA 2.056 of the 99 schools around Finglas South get extra support for disadvantaged areas
The DEIS programme includes 57% of the schools around Finglas South, above both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). Belvedere College S.J, one of its 22 secondary schools, charges fees; the others are free. 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 Finglas South’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 52 more. Who runs them ↓
One fee-paying secondary school
One secondary school within reach charges fees; the others are free. The fee-paying one: Belvedere College S.J (1,011). Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Within 10 km of the town there are 109 post-primary schools to choose from, of different kinds; each sets its own admission policy, and many families apply to several. The nearest: St Michaels Secondary School (0.5 km), Coláiste Eoin (0.5 km) and St Dominics College (1.4 km). Post-primary choices ↓
Facts from the Department of Education’s lists; nothing here judges how well a school teaches.
Who runs Finglas South’s schools
Who runs each school, as listed for 2025/26; the bars give the share of schools of each kind.
78 of Finglas South’s 99 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (54), Educate Together (7) and Edmund Rice Schools Trust (7). 56 of the 99 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 99 schools in and around Finglas South
Here are the schools in Finglas South or within 3 km of it, every one with its own page. Results by school aren’t published in Ireland, so the cards carry none.
Show all 66 primary schools
Where the 99 schools in and around Finglas South 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 Finglas South’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 Finglas South
How many schools teach through each language; the tick marks Ireland’s share.
9 of Finglas South’s 99 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Ui Earcain, Coláiste Mhuire and Gaelscoil Bharra.
Who Finglas South’s schools serve
How the area’s pupils divide, against 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 Finglas South | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 50% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 7% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 48% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 60% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 8% | 18% | 6% |
50% of the pupils around Finglas South are at a DEIS school, more than the 27% across Ireland (28% in Co. Dublin). Furthest from Ireland’s mix is the share of post-primary pupils at single-sex schools: 60% here against 29%. The biggest school in DEIS is St Mary's Secondary School (830 pupils).
Each of the 99 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 19 patrons of Finglas South’s schools
Patrons own the schools and set their ethos; boards of management run them day to day.
Archbishop of Dublin is patron of 54 of the 99 schools around Finglas South, which teach 41% of their pupils; 19 patrons run them in all. 5 are ETB schools. Educate Together runs 7.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinSt Brigids Mxd, Holy Child, Mother of Divine Grace, St Canices G, St Patricks N School, St Peters, St Brigids Convent, Scoil na Croi Naofa, Corpus Christi, Stanhope Street Primary School, St Columbas Con G & I, St Canices B, Mary, Help of Christians G., Gardiner Street Convent, Scoil an Leinbh Iosa Boys Seniors, S.N. Eoin Bosco Buach, S N Naomh Finnin, SN an Spioraid Naiomh C, Scoil Mobhi, St. Vincent's Primary School, Holy Spirit B, Our Lady of Victories Infant, S N Naomh Feargal Boys Senior, Bantiarna na mBuanna Girls, Bantiarna na mBuanna Boys, St Gabriels, Scoil an Tseachtar Laoch, St Josephs Senior, Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire, Virgin Mary Girls, Scoil Ui Chonaill Boys Seniors, S N na Maighdine Muire B, Dominican Convent Girls Senior School, St Josephs G, S.N. Eoin Bosco Nai Buac, St Brigids Infant, St Ciarans Spec Sch, St Catherines Infant School, St Josephs Jnr, St Brigids Senior Girls, Holy Family School for the Deaf, St Malachys, St Kevins B, Fionnbarra Naofa B., Scoil na Mbrathar Boys Senior School, St Oliver Plunkett, Christ the King B, Christ the King Girls Senior School, St Vincents Home NS, Hospital School CHI at Temple Street, St Josephs for Blind, Christ the King I G, Casa Caterina S S, Henrietta Street School | Catholic | 54 | 12,094 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustEdmund Rice College, St. Aidan's C.B.S., St Declan's College, St Kevins College, St Vincents C.B.S. Glasnevin, Coláiste Mhuire, St Pauls C.B.S. | Catholic | 7 | 3,715 |
| Educate TogetherDublin 7 Educate Together NS, Glasnevin Educate Together NS, Grace Park Educate Together, Broombridge Educate Together, Pelletstown ETNS, Castleknock Educate Together NS, Paradise Place ETNS | Multi-denominational | 7 | 2,721 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustSt Mary's, Dominican College, St Dominics College, St Michaels, Beneavin De La Salle College, Scoil Chaitriona | Catholic | 6 | 4,173 |
| City of Dublin ETBClonturk College, Cabra, Coláiste Eoin, An Cosan CSS | Multi-denominational | 4 | 1,545 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil Ui Earcain, Gaelscoil Bharra, Gaelscoil Áine, Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna | Catholic, Multi-denominational | 4 | 800 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIScoil Naisunta Chnuacha, Finglas Parochial, Glasnevin, Drumcondra | Church of Ireland | 4 | 456 |
| Religious Sisters of CharityMount Carmel, St Josephs | Catholic | 2 | 669 |
| Society of Jesus (Jesuits)Belvedere College S.J | Catholic | 1 | 1,011 |
| Minister for EducationTrinity Comprehensive School | Catholic | 1 | 564 |
| Le Chéile Schools Trust & Religious Sisters of CharityNew Cross College | Catholic | 1 | 417 |
| 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 |
| Health Service ExecutivePhoenix Park Specialist School | Catholic | 1 | 17 |
| CrosscareYouth Encounter Project | Catholic | 1 | 14 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Finglas South
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 fee-paying school here sets its 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, 30 of these 87 schools have grown by 5% or more and 39 have shrunk as much; across Ireland the number of pupils changed by +5%.
All 87 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 Finglas South’s schools
Reports from the Department of Education’s Inspectorate, every school’s linked and none rated
Inspectors visit every kind of school. Whole-school evaluations look at teaching and learning, leadership and management; subject inspections look at one subject; follow-through inspections check whether earlier advice was taken. Each report is published 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 99 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 Finglas South
All post-primaries within 10 km; at about twelve, families choose and apply school by school
Within 10 km of Finglas South there are 109 post-primary schools: 74 voluntary secondary schools, 27 ETB schools, 6 community schools and 2 comprehensive schools. Of these, 44 are single-sex: 24 for girls and 20 for boys. Fees are charged at 16 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 5 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Michaels Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 646 | 0.5 km |
| Coláiste EoinETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 257 | 0.5 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 1.4 km |
| New Cross CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 417 | 1.4 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 585 | 1.5 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 1.8 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 1.9 km |
| St Kevins CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 503 | 1.9 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 2 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 2.4 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 2.7 km |
| Edmund Rice CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 912 | 3 km |
All 109 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 564 | 3.1 km |
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 3.1 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 725 | 3.6 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 3.8 km |
| Clonturk CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 968 | 3.9 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 3.9 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 4.1 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 4.2 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 4.3 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 4.3 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 4.3 km |
| Ellenfield Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 150 | 4.4 km |
| Le Cheile Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 944 | 4.4 km |
| Castleknock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 771 | 4.5 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 4.6 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 4.7 km |
| Maryfield CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 527 | 4.8 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 4.9 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 407 | 5 km |
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 5.2 km |
| Rath Dara Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 323 | 5.2 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 5.3 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 5.3 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 5.4 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 5.4 km |
| Árdscoil RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 563 | 5.4 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 5.5 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 5.6 km |
| Castleknock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,318 | 5.8 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 903 | 5.8 km |
| St. David's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 550 | 5.9 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 5.9 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 5.9 km |
| The Kings HospitalVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 732 | 5.9 km |
| Scoil Phobail Chuil MhinCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,014 | 5.9 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 6 km |
| Phobailscoil IosoldeCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 764 | 6.1 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 6.1 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 6.2 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 6.3 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 6.3 km |
| Coolock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 6.4 km |
| Blakestown Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 563 | 6.6 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 6.8 km |
| Chanel CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 451 | 6.8 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 6.8 km |
| Luttrellstown Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,027 | 6.9 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 6.9 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 6.9 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 7 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 7 km |
| Mercy College CoolockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 402 | 7.2 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 7.2 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 7.3 km |
| St. Kevin's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 525 | 7.4 km |
| Hartstown Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,120 | 7.4 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 7.6 km |
| Collinstown Park Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 630 | 7.6 km |
| St Pauls CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 650 | 7.6 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 7.7 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 7.7 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 7.8 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 8.1 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 8.2 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 8.3 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 8.4 km |
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 8.5 km |
| St Pauls Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 466 | 8.6 km |
| Coláiste Pobail SetantaETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,079 | 8.7 km |
| Greenhills CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 186 | 8.7 km |
| Templeogue CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 637 | 8.8 km |
| Terenure CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 800 | 8.8 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 655 | 8.8 km |
| Manor House SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 652 | 8.9 km |
| Coláiste Phádraig CBSVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 745 | 8.9 km |
| The Donahies Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 488 | 8.9 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 8.9 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 8.9 km |
| Árdscoil La SalleVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 9.1 km |
| Coláiste BrídeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 993 | 9.2 km |
| Coláiste ChilliainETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 400 | 9.2 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 9.2 km |
| Eriu Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 193 | 9.3 km |
| Hansfield ETSSVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 867 | 9.3 km |
| Moyle Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 763 | 9.3 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 9.3 km |
| Our Ladys SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 9.3 km |
| Belmayne Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 595 | 9.3 km |
| St Joseph's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 934 | 9.3 km |
| Coláiste Cois LifeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 592 | 9.4 km |
| Coláiste ChoilmVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 421 | 9.4 km |
| Kishoge Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 937 | 9.5 km |
| Griffeen Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 576 | 9.5 km |
| Coláiste de hÍdeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 266 | 9.6 km |
| Kingswood Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,006 | 9.6 km |
| St Mac Dara's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 915 | 9.7 km |
| Swords Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 952 | 10 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Finglas South
11 special schools serve the area: Youth Encounter Project, Casa Caterina S S, St Ciarans Spec Sch, St Vincents Home NS, Holy Family School for the Deaf, Phoenix Park Specialist School, St Michaels Hse Spec Sc, Hospital School CHI at Temple Street, An Cosan CSS, St Josephs for Blind N.S. and Henrietta Street School, 658 pupils between them. 35 of the 66 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.
Finglas South beside the 84 other Irish towns of 8,700 to 16,800 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leixlip | 16,733 | 29 | 13,767 | 1 | 0% | 0.4 km |
| … | ||||||
| Wicklow | 12,957 | 11 | 4,543 | 1 | 36% | 0.6 km |
| Hollystown | 12,884 | 68 | 22,939 | 3 | 50% | 1.9 km |
| Blackrock | 12,816 | 66 | 25,764 | 6 | 11% | 0.8 km |
| Ballsbridge | 12,743 | 116 | 31,567 | 9 | 42% | 0.7 km |
| Finglas South | 12,475 | 99 | 29,161 | 9 | 57% | 0.5 km |
| Enniscorthy | 12,310 | 9 | 3,951 | 2 | 44% | 0.9 km |
| Firhouse | 12,254 | 70 | 25,224 | 5 | 34% | 0.7 km |
| Foxrock | 12,163 | 80 | 28,450 | 7 | 18% | 0.8 km |
| Summerhill | 11,911 | 118 | 31,929 | 8 | 51% | 0.3 km |
| … | ||||||
| Ballyvolane | 8,707 | 60 | 16,728 | 8 | 45% | 1.9 km |
Of these 84 other towns, 23 count more pupils at their schools than Finglas South. 84 of the 85 towns have an all-Irish school within 3 km.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Finglas South
Every school in or within 3 km of the town each September, counted where it stands today.
The schools in and around Finglas South had 26,069 pupils in 2015/16 and 29,161 in 2025/26. Edmund Rice College grew most: +576% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Finglas South
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 Finglas South
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finglas South | 99 | 29,161 | 9 | 57% | 0.5 km |
| Finglas North 1.1 km | 73 | 21,290 | 8 | 62% | 0.7 km |
| Ashtown 1.4 km | 97 | 28,864 | 8 | 52% | 0.7 km |
| Ballygall 1.6 km | 118 | 32,759 | 10 | 55% | 0.4 km |
| Cabra West 2 km | 132 | 34,456 | 10 | 63% | 0.2 km |
| Dubber 2.5 km | 54 | 15,781 | 5 | 67% | 1.8 km |
| Cabra East 2.7 km | 157 | 40,651 | 10 | 63% | 0.9 km |
Ballygall has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 10. Of Finglas South’s neighbours, Finglas North saw the most growth in pupils since 2019/20 (+7%) and Ballygall the least (+2%); Finglas South itself: +6%.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Finglas South 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 Finglas South
How many schools are there in Finglas South?
In Finglas South or within 3 km of it: 66 primary schools, 22 secondary schools and 11 special schools, with 29,161 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Finglas South that teach through Irish?
Yes, 9: Gaelscoil Ui Earcain, Coláiste Mhuire and Gaelscoil Bharra teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Finglas South?
1 of the 22: Belvedere College S.J. The others are free.
What is the best school in Finglas South?
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 Finglas South?
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).