Mercy Secondary School
Thomas Davis Street West, Inchicore, Dublin 8 · D08 Y4X0 · Roll number 60872A
Mercy Secondary School is one of 26 post-primary schools in or within 3 km of Kilmainham. Every school in and around Kilmainham →
What stands out about Mercy Secondary School
- A small post-primary school: 349 pupils, against a typical 585.
- Teaches through English, with Irish as a subject.
- Growing: 349 pupils, 124% more than the 156 of 2019/20.
- In 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.
- A voluntary secondary school: owned by its trustees, most often a religious order or its successor trust, and paid for by the State.
- Its patron is CEIST; its ethos is Catholic.
Pupils over time
2015/16 to 2025/26Mercy Secondary School had 349 pupils in 2025/26, against 169 in 2015/16 (+107%). Girls are 55% of them. Its roll rose in 7 of the 10 years.
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year; girls and boys where the lists give them.
No letter for Mercy Secondary School
Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing schools by them, so this school has no letter and nothing here ranks it. Its facts are the Department of Education’s; its inspection reports are linked below.
What the Department of Education does publish for Mercy Secondary School is on this page: its pupils each September since 2015/16, girls and boys, its patron and ethos, whether it teaches through Irish, whether it is in DEIS, and its inspection reports.
Newspapers print lists of how many of a school’s leavers go on to college. Those count destinations, not exam results, and depend on who a school takes in; we don’t use them.
Inspection reports on Mercy Secondary School
The Department of Education’s Inspectorate visits schools and publishes its reports. The reports describe what inspectors saw; they give no overall grade, and we don’t make one. Reports for this school on gov.ie ↗
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.
Getting a place at Mercy Secondary School
Every school admits under its own published admission policy; no admissions numbers are published.
Families apply to Mercy Secondary School directly, usually in the year before their child finishes sixth class; the school’s yearly admission notice gives the dates for applying and for its decisions.
A school with more applicants than places admits on the criteria in its admission policy, often brothers and sisters, the area it serves and, for post-primary schools, its feeder primaries. A family refused a place can appeal.
It is in DEIS, so it has extra support for pupils from disadvantaged areas.
No figures on applications are published, but the roll shows demand: Mercy Secondary School has grown by 124% since 2019/20. All the schools around Kilmainham together changed by +5%.
Pupils since 2019/20
Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; Department of Education enrolments 2019/20 and 2025/26 (preliminary).
Side by side with the nearest post-primary schools
2025/26The nearest schools of the same kind, as the crow flies: their pupils, ethos and language. No results: none are published.
Of the 6 nearest post-primary schools, 2 have more pupils than Mercy Secondary School. Since 2019/20 its roll has changed by +124%; 0 of the 6 grew faster.
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Secondary School | 349 | +124% | Catholic | English | ✓ | |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary School | 289 | −6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 0.7 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid Rís | 521 | −10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 1.6 km |
| Assumption Secondary School | 270 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 1.7 km |
| Loreto College | 320 | −20% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 1.8 km |
| Clogher Road Community College | 297 | +46% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 2.1 km |
| Kylemore College | 479 | +22% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 2.2 km |
The other 177 post-primary schools in Co. Dublin
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.B.S. James Street | 251 | +65% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 2.2 km |
| Rosary College | 250 | +35% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 2.2 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary School | 741 | – | Other | English | ✓ | 2.3 km |
| Presentation College | 262 | +55% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 2.9 km |
| St Josephs Secondary School | 283 | +48% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 3.2 km |
| St Pauls Secondary School | 466 | +4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 3.3 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary School | 437 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 3.3 km | |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar School | 302 | +39% | Church of Ireland | English | 3.4 km | |
| Greenhills College | 186 | +36% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 3.4 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S. | 244 | +15% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 3.4 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary School | 636 | −3% | Catholic | English | 3.5 km | |
| Coláiste Mhuire | 272 | −4% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 3.5 km |
| St Declan's College | 651 | +0% | Catholic | English | 3.6 km | |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St. | 256 | −3% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 3.6 km |
| Templeogue College | 637 | −6% | Catholic | English | 3.7 km | |
| Presentation Community College | 443 | +26% | Catholic | English | 3.7 km | |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., Rathmines | 500 | +17% | Catholic | English | 3.8 km | |
| St Louis High School | 690 | +2% | Catholic | English | 3.8 km | |
| Phobailscoil Iosolde | 764 | −0% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 3.9 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary School | 386 | −4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 3.9 km |
| Terenure College | 800 | +16% | Catholic | English | 4 km | |
| St Dominics College | 790 | −1% | Catholic | English | 4 km | |
| Cabra Community College | 264 | +102% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 4 km |
| Coláiste de hÍde | 266 | −11% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | ✓ | 4.3 km |
| Loreto College | 588 | +5% | Catholic | English | 4.4 km | |
| Stratford College | 189 | +28% | Jewish | English | 4.4 km | |
| Catholic University School | 544 | +7% | Catholic | English | 4.4 km | |
| St Mac Dara's Community College | 915 | +7% | Inter-denominational | English | 4.4 km | |
| Our Ladys School | 799 | +5% | Catholic | English | 4.4 km | |
| Belvedere College S.J | 1,011 | +1% | Catholic | English | 4.5 km | |
| Larkin Community College | 403 | +3% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 4.6 km |
| Castleknock College | 771 | +10% | Catholic | English | 4.7 km | |
| St Vincents C.B.S. Glasnevin | 408 | +13% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 4.7 km |
| Kingswood Community College | 1,006 | +93% | Multi-denominational | English | 4.7 km | |
| The High School | 811 | +11% | Church of Ireland | English | 4.7 km | |
| Edmund Rice College | 912 | +576% | Catholic | English | 4.8 km | |
| Tallaght Community School | 840 | +10% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 4.8 km |
| C.B.S. Westland Row | 205 | +52% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 4.9 km |
| The Kings Hospital | 732 | +3% | Church of Ireland | English | 4.9 km | |
| Collinstown Park Community College | 630 | +11% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 4.9 km |
| Coláiste Bríde | 993 | +4% | Catholic | English | 5 km | |
| Sandford Park School Ltd | 437 | +8% | Inter-denominational | English | 5 km | |
| O'Connell School | 222 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5.3 km |
| Gonzaga College | 576 | +4% | Catholic | English | 5.3 km | |
| Moyle Park College | 763 | +3% | Catholic | English | 5.3 km | |
| St Mary's Secondary School | 830 | +2% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5.4 km |
| St Conleths College | 339 | +19% | Catholic | English | 5.5 km | |
| Muckross Park College | 709 | +0% | Catholic | English | 5.5 km | |
| Coláiste Chilliain | 400 | −4% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 5.5 km | |
| Loreto High School | 625 | −5% | Catholic | English | 5.5 km | |
| Alexandra College | 664 | +13% | Church of Ireland | English | 5.6 km | |
| Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh | 296 | +13% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 5.7 km | |
| Coláiste Eoin | 257 | +43% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 5.8 km |
| St Michaels Secondary School | 646 | +4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5.8 km |
| Scoil Chaitriona | 523 | +11% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 5.8 km |
| Coláiste Éanna | 618 | +3% | Catholic | English | 5.8 km | |
| St. Kevin's Community College | 525 | +41% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 5.8 km |
| De La Salle College | 463 | +45% | Catholic | English | 5.9 km | |
| Sancta Maria College | 577 | +5% | Catholic | English | 5.9 km | |
| Castleknock Community College | 1,318 | +13% | Multi-denominational | English | 6 km | |
| New Cross College | 417 | +110% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6.2 km |
| St Kevins College | 503 | −6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6.2 km |
| Rosmini Community School | 139 | +16% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 6.2 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle College | 585 | +15% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6.3 km |
| Marian College | 319 | −8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6.3 km |
| Dominican College | 799 | +7% | Catholic | English | 6.4 km | |
| St. Colmcille's Community School | 727 | −0% | Inter-denominational | English | 6.5 km | |
| Ringsend College | 191 | +1% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 6.6 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S. | 310 | +20% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6.6 km |
| Deansrath Community College | 425 | +43% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 6.7 km |
| The Teresian School | 230 | +16% | Catholic | English | 6.7 km | |
| St Marks Community School | 931 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 6.7 km |
| Marino College | 297 | +21% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 6.7 km |
| Old Bawn Community School | 1,024 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | 6.8 km | |
| Le Cheile Secondary School | 944 | +26% | Catholic | English | 6.8 km | |
| Clonturk College | 968 | +182% | Multi-denominational | English | 6.8 km | |
| Kishoge Community College | 937 | +12% | Multi-denominational | English | 6.9 km | |
| Griffeen Community College | 576 | +317% | Multi-denominational | English | 6.9 km | |
| Firhouse Community College | 825 | +2% | Inter-denominational | English | 7 km | |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary School | 295 | −3% | Catholic | English | 7 km | |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S. | 725 | +1% | Catholic | English | 7 km | |
| St Kilian's Deutsche Schule | 475 | +18% | Inter-denominational | English | 7.2 km | |
| Luttrellstown Community College | 1,027 | +15% | Multi-denominational | English | 7.2 km | |
| Árdscoil Rís | 563 | +4% | Catholic | English | 7.2 km | |
| St Michaels College | 731 | +10% | Catholic | English | 7.2 km | |
| Maryfield College | 527 | −11% | Catholic | English | 7.2 km | |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary School | 437 | +460% | Multi-denominational | English | 7.3 km | |
| Trinity Comprehensive School | 564 | +15% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 7.4 km |
| Ballinteer Community School | 415 | +2% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 7.4 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive School | 903 | +2% | Church of Ireland | English | 7.5 km | |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary School | 366 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 7.5 km | |
| Ellenfield Community College | 150 | +3% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 7.5 km |
| Scoil Phobail Chuil Mhin | 1,014 | −1% | Inter-denominational | English | 7.6 km | |
| Coláiste Phádraig CBS | 745 | +38% | Catholic | English | 7.7 km | |
| Coláiste Cois Life | 592 | −27% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 7.7 km | |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School | 411 | +407% | Multi-denominational | English | 7.7 km | |
| Rath Dara Community College | 323 | +28% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.2 km |
| Mount Anville Secondary School | 726 | +4% | Catholic | English | 8.2 km | |
| St Aidan's Community School | 561 | +28% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.2 km |
| St Joseph's College | 934 | +6% | Catholic | English | 8.2 km | |
| Our Lady Of Mercy College | 407 | +6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 8.2 km |
| St. Tiernan's Community School | 368 | +7% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.3 km |
| Rockbrook Park School | 186 | +14% | Catholic | English | 8.4 km | |
| Killinarden Community School | 471 | −3% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.4 km |
| Wesley College | 942 | +2% | Methodist | English | 8.4 km | |
| St. David's College | 550 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 8.5 km |
| Blakestown Community School | 563 | +31% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.5 km |
| Lucan Community College | 966 | +5% | Multi-denominational | English | 8.6 km | |
| St Columba's College | 357 | +7% | Church of Ireland | English | 8.6 km | |
| Coláiste Eoin | 517 | +4% | Catholic | All in Irish | 8.7 km | |
| Holy Faith Secondary School | 647 | +0% | Catholic | English | 8.7 km | |
| Mount Seskin Community College | 350 | +8% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.7 km |
| Coláiste Íosagáin | 488 | +1% | Catholic | All in Irish | 8.7 km | |
| St Andrews College | 1,011 | +2% | Presbyterian | English | 8.7 km | |
| St Benildus College | 949 | +18% | Catholic | English | 8.8 km | |
| Willow Park School | 206 | −0% | Catholic | English | 9.1 km | |
| Hartstown Community School | 1,120 | −1% | Inter-denominational | English | 9.1 km | |
| St Marys Secondary School | 320 | +0% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 9.2 km |
| Adamstown Community College | 981 | +8% | Multi-denominational | English | 9.3 km | |
| Oatlands College | 623 | +14% | Catholic | English | 9.3 km | |
| St Pauls College | 650 | +10% | Catholic | English | 9.5 km | |
| Blackrock College | 1,041 | +2% | Catholic | English | 9.5 km | |
| Dominican College | 521 | +19% | Catholic | English | 9.6 km | |
| Coláiste pobail Fóla | 758 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 9.7 km | |
| Chanel College | 451 | −21% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 9.7 km |
| St Raphaela's Secondary School | 637 | +12% | Catholic | English | 9.8 km | |
| Coolock Community College | 205 | +32% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 9.8 km |
| Mercy College Coolock | 402 | −6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 9.9 km |
| Eriu Community College | 193 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 10 km | |
| Coláiste Pobail Setanta | 1,079 | +2% | Multi-denominational | English | 10 km | |
| Hansfield ETSS | 867 | +34% | Multi-denominational | English | 10 km | |
| Rosemont School | 307 | +69% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| Manor House School | 652 | −5% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| Newpark Comprehensive School | 884 | +3% | Church of Ireland | English | 11 km | |
| Árdscoil La Salle | 289 | +74% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| The Donahies Community School | 488 | +4% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Rockford Manor Secondary School | 273 | −1% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School | 741 | +246% | Multi-denominational | English | 12 km | |
| Loreto College Foxrock | 660 | +27% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Holy Family Community School | 998 | +4% | Inter-denominational | English | 12 km | |
| Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School | 595 | +1,883% | Multi-denominational | English | 12 km | |
| Christian Brothers College | 549 | +7% | Catholic | English | 13 km | |
| Grange Community College | 553 | +98% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 13 km |
| Gaelcholáiste Reachrann | 453 | +2% | Inter-denominational | All in Irish | 13 km | |
| Clonkeen College | 635 | +10% | Catholic | English | 13 km | |
| Loreto College | 655 | +4% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| Holy Child Community School | 275 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 14 km |
| Pobalscoil Neasáin | 831 | +7% | Inter-denominational | English | 14 km | |
| Cabinteely Community School | 512 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 14 km |
| Coláiste Choilm | 421 | −23% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| Rathdown School | 364 | +38% | Church of Ireland | English | 14 km | |
| St Marys Secondary School | 230 | −16% | Catholic | English | 15 km | |
| St. Fintan's High School | 714 | +1% | Catholic | English | 15 km | |
| Malahide & Portmarnock Secondary School | 696 | +939% | Multi-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School | 236 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| St Joseph Of Cluny Secondary School | 270 | +7% | Catholic | English | 15 km | |
| Swords Community College | 952 | +473% | Multi-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| Fingal Community College | 864 | +1% | Inter-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| St Laurence College | 302 | +17% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 15 km |
| St Finians Community College | 671 | +4% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 16 km |
| Santa Sabina Dominican College | 754 | +13% | Catholic | English | 16 km | |
| Sutton Park School | 503 | +36% | Church of Ireland | English | 16 km | |
| Malahide Community School | 1,250 | +3% | Inter-denominational | English | 16 km | |
| Loreto Abbey Secondary School | 757 | +16% | Catholic | English | 16 km | |
| Portmarnock Community School | 955 | +3% | Inter-denominational | English | 16 km | |
| Holy Child Killiney | 382 | +9% | Catholic | English | 17 km | |
| John Scottus Secondary School | 211 | +77% | Inter-denominational | English | 18 km | |
| Woodbrook College | 623 | +51% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 19 km |
| Donabate Community College | 799 | +5% | Multi-denominational | English | 21 km | |
| Lusk Community College | 1,104 | +61% | Multi-denominational | English | 24 km | |
| St Joseph's Secondary School | 945 | +19% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 25 km |
| Skerries Community College | 1,025 | +5% | Inter-denominational | English | 30 km | |
| Ardgillan Community College | 1,014 | +6% | Multi-denominational | English | 31 km | |
| Bremore Educate Together Secondary School | 824 | +124% | Multi-denominational | English | 31 km | |
| Coláiste Ghlór na Mara | 520 | +63% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 31 km | |
| Balbriggan Community College | 686 | +33% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 32 km |
| Loreto Secondary School | 1,220 | −5% | Catholic | English | 32 km |
Living in Kilmainham
The town’s figures, not this street’s.
Homes in the D08 Eircode area
Housing in Kilmainham →The median sale price rose from €343,600 in 2023 to €391,400 in 2025 (+14%).
New against second-hand, 2023 to 2025
Property Price Register sales in the D08 Eircode routing area, 2023 to 2025.
Renting in Kilmainham
Cost of living in Kilmainham →New tenancies in Kilmainham averaged €2,010 a month in 2025, against €1,943 in 2024 (+3%).
Residential Tenancies Board rent index, new tenancies, 2024 and 2025.
Location
Directions ↗Kilmainham, D08 Y4X0
Post-primary schools near Mercy Secondary School
Nearest first, as the crow flies, up to 25 km. Each school’s own admission policy decides who gets a place.
Questions about Mercy Secondary School
Is Mercy Secondary School a good school?
We don’t grade it: Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them. Its inspection reports on gov.ie, a visit and a talk with the principal will tell you more than any table could.
How many pupils does Mercy Secondary School have?
349 pupils in 2025/26. That is +124% since 2019/20.
Does Mercy Secondary School teach through Irish?
No: Mercy Secondary School teaches in English, with Irish as a subject.
Who runs Mercy Secondary School?
Mercy Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. Its patron is CEIST.
How do pupils get a place at Mercy Secondary School?
Apply to the school directly. It publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice with its dates; if more children apply than it has places, it admits on the criteria in its policy.
Which schools of the same kind are near Mercy Secondary School?
The nearest are Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary School (0.7 km), Meanscoil Iognáid Rís (1.6 km) and Assumption Secondary School (1.7 km).
Sources: Department of Education, school lists 2025/26 (preliminary) and enrolments since 2015/16, CC BY 4.0 · inspection reports on gov.ie, linked by roll number. Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Facts from the Department of Education’s school lists. Listed with Kilmainham; nothing here rates the school.
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).