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An Mhainistir, Bóthar na Gráinsí, Ráth Fearnáin, Baile Átha Cliath 14 · D14 PP82 · Roll number 68161H
Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh is one of 37 post-primary schools in or within 3 km of Rathfarnham. Every school in and around Rathfarnham →
What stands out about Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh
- A small post-primary school: 296 pupils, against a typical 585.
- About as many pupils as in 2019/20 (+13%).
- Every subject is taught through Irish.
- 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 An Foras Pátrúnachta; its ethos is multi-denominational.
Pupils over time
2015/16 to 2025/26Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh had 296 pupils in 2025/26, against 54 in 2015/16 (+448%). Girls are 55% of them. Its largest roll was 319, in 2022/23. Its roll rose in 8 of the 10 years.
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year; girls and boys where the lists give them.
No letter for Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh
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 Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh 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 Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh
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 Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh
Every school admits under its own published admission policy; no admissions numbers are published.
Families apply to Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh 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 teaches every subject through Irish.
No figures on applications are published, but the roll shows demand: Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh has grown by 13% since 2019/20. All the schools around Rathfarnham together changed by +6%.
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.
Each of the 6 nearest post-primary schools has more pupils than Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh. Since 2019/20 its roll has changed by +13%; 1 of the 6 grew faster.
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh | 296 | +13% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | ||
| Loreto High School | 625 | −5% | Catholic | English | 0.3 km | |
| De La Salle College | 463 | +45% | Catholic | English | 1.2 km | |
| Our Ladys School | 799 | +5% | Catholic | English | 1.4 km | |
| Coláiste Éanna | 618 | +3% | Catholic | English | 1.4 km | |
| The High School | 811 | +11% | Church of Ireland | English | 1.6 km | |
| Ballinteer Community School | 415 | +2% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 1.8 km |
The other 177 post-primary schools in Co. Dublin
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terenure College | 800 | +16% | Catholic | English | 1.8 km | |
| Sancta Maria College | 577 | +5% | Catholic | English | 1.8 km | |
| Stratford College | 189 | +28% | Jewish | English | 2 km | |
| Presentation Community College | 443 | +26% | Catholic | English | 2.1 km | |
| Templeogue College | 637 | −6% | Catholic | English | 2.5 km | |
| St. Colmcille's Community School | 727 | −0% | Inter-denominational | English | 2.8 km | |
| Alexandra College | 664 | +13% | Church of Ireland | English | 2.8 km | |
| Wesley College | 942 | +2% | Methodist | English | 3 km | |
| St Columba's College | 357 | +7% | Church of Ireland | English | 3 km | |
| St. Tiernan's Community School | 368 | +7% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 3 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary School | 295 | −3% | Catholic | English | 3.1 km | |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary School | 366 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 3.1 km | |
| St Mac Dara's Community College | 915 | +7% | Inter-denominational | English | 3.2 km | |
| St Louis High School | 690 | +2% | Catholic | English | 3.3 km | |
| Gonzaga College | 576 | +4% | Catholic | English | 3.4 km | |
| Rosary College | 250 | +35% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 3.5 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary School | 437 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 3.5 km | |
| St Kilian's Deutsche Schule | 475 | +18% | Inter-denominational | English | 3.6 km | |
| Rockbrook Park School | 186 | +14% | Catholic | English | 3.6 km | |
| Mount Anville Secondary School | 726 | +4% | Catholic | English | 3.8 km | |
| Sandford Park School Ltd | 437 | +8% | Inter-denominational | English | 3.8 km | |
| St Pauls Secondary School | 466 | +4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 3.9 km |
| Tallaght Community School | 840 | +10% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 3.9 km |
| St Benildus College | 949 | +18% | Catholic | English | 4 km | |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., Rathmines | 500 | +17% | Catholic | English | 4 km | |
| Clogher Road Community College | 297 | +46% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 4 km |
| Greenhills College | 186 | +36% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 4 km |
| Muckross Park College | 709 | +0% | Catholic | English | 4.1 km | |
| The Teresian School | 230 | +16% | Catholic | English | 4.3 km | |
| Loreto College | 320 | −20% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 4.3 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School | 411 | +407% | Multi-denominational | English | 4.5 km | |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St. | 256 | −3% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 4.6 km |
| Coláiste de hÍde | 266 | −11% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | ✓ | 4.7 km |
| St Conleths College | 339 | +19% | Catholic | English | 4.8 km | |
| Assumption Secondary School | 270 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 4.8 km |
| Presentation College | 262 | +55% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 4.9 km |
| Firhouse Community College | 825 | +2% | Inter-denominational | English | 4.9 km | |
| Rosemont School | 307 | +69% | Catholic | English | 4.9 km | |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary School | 289 | −6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5 km |
| Catholic University School | 544 | +7% | Catholic | English | 5 km | |
| Meanscoil Iognáid Rís | 521 | −10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5 km |
| St Raphaela's Secondary School | 637 | +12% | Catholic | English | 5.1 km | |
| Coláiste Eoin | 517 | +4% | Catholic | All in Irish | 5.1 km | |
| St Michaels College | 731 | +10% | Catholic | English | 5.1 km | |
| Oatlands College | 623 | +14% | Catholic | English | 5.1 km | |
| Coláiste Íosagáin | 488 | +1% | Catholic | All in Irish | 5.2 km | |
| Loreto College | 588 | +5% | Catholic | English | 5.2 km | |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar School | 302 | +39% | Church of Ireland | English | 5.2 km | |
| C.B.S. James Street | 251 | +65% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5.4 km |
| St Andrews College | 1,011 | +2% | Presbyterian | English | 5.4 km | |
| Mercy Secondary School | 349 | +124% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5.7 km |
| Marian College | 319 | −8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5.7 km |
| Willow Park School | 206 | −0% | Catholic | English | 5.8 km | |
| C.B.S. Westland Row | 205 | +52% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6 km |
| Dominican College | 521 | +19% | Catholic | English | 6.1 km | |
| Blackrock College | 1,041 | +2% | Catholic | English | 6.1 km | |
| Old Bawn Community School | 1,024 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | 6.1 km | |
| Kingswood Community College | 1,006 | +93% | Multi-denominational | English | 6.3 km | |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary School | 437 | +460% | Multi-denominational | English | 6.4 km | |
| St Pauls C.B.S. | 244 | +15% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6.5 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary School | 386 | −4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6.7 km |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School | 741 | +246% | Multi-denominational | English | 6.7 km | |
| St Josephs Secondary School | 283 | +48% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6.7 km |
| Ringsend College | 191 | +1% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 6.8 km |
| Larkin Community College | 403 | +3% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 6.8 km |
| Newpark Comprehensive School | 884 | +3% | Church of Ireland | English | 7.1 km | |
| Belvedere College S.J | 1,011 | +1% | Catholic | English | 7.1 km | |
| Loreto College Foxrock | 660 | +27% | Catholic | English | 7.2 km | |
| St Marks Community School | 931 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 7.2 km |
| Kylemore College | 479 | +22% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 7.6 km |
| O'Connell School | 222 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 7.6 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary School | 741 | – | Other | English | ✓ | 7.7 km |
| Rockford Manor Secondary School | 273 | −1% | Catholic | English | 7.8 km | |
| Coláiste Bríde | 993 | +4% | Catholic | English | 7.8 km | |
| Killinarden Community School | 471 | −3% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8 km |
| Coláiste Mhuire | 272 | −4% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 8.3 km |
| Moyle Park College | 763 | +3% | Catholic | English | 8.4 km | |
| St Declan's College | 651 | +0% | Catholic | English | 8.4 km | |
| St Vincents C.B.S. Glasnevin | 408 | +13% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 8.4 km |
| Clonkeen College | 635 | +10% | Catholic | English | 8.5 km | |
| St Josephs C.B.S. | 310 | +20% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 8.5 km |
| Cabra Community College | 264 | +102% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.6 km |
| Marino College | 297 | +21% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.6 km |
| Christian Brothers College | 549 | +7% | Catholic | English | 8.8 km | |
| Mount Seskin Community College | 350 | +8% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.8 km |
| St Aidan's Community School | 561 | +28% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.8 km |
| Coláiste Chilliain | 400 | −4% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 8.9 km | |
| St Dominics College | 790 | −1% | Catholic | English | 9 km | |
| Phobailscoil Iosolde | 764 | −0% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 9 km |
| Rosmini Community School | 139 | +16% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 9 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary School | 636 | −3% | Catholic | English | 9.1 km | |
| Árdscoil Rís | 563 | +4% | Catholic | English | 9.2 km | |
| Scoil Chaitriona | 523 | +11% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 9.2 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive School | 903 | +2% | Church of Ireland | English | 9.3 km | |
| St Mary's Secondary School | 830 | +2% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 9.3 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary School | 647 | +0% | Catholic | English | 9.3 km | |
| Dominican College | 799 | +7% | Catholic | English | 9.3 km | |
| Collinstown Park Community College | 630 | +11% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 9.4 km |
| Cabinteely Community School | 512 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 9.5 km |
| Holy Child Community School | 275 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 9.7 km |
| Maryfield College | 527 | −11% | Catholic | English | 9.8 km | |
| Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School | 236 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 9.8 km | |
| Clonturk College | 968 | +182% | Multi-denominational | English | 9.9 km | |
| Deansrath Community College | 425 | +43% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 10 km |
| Rathdown School | 364 | +38% | Church of Ireland | English | 10 km | |
| The Kings Hospital | 732 | +3% | Church of Ireland | English | 10 km | |
| Castleknock College | 771 | +10% | Catholic | English | 10 km | |
| St Kevins College | 503 | −6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 10 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S. | 725 | +1% | Catholic | English | 10 km | |
| Edmund Rice College | 912 | +576% | Catholic | English | 10 km | |
| St Laurence College | 302 | +17% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 10 km |
| Ellenfield Community College | 150 | +3% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Coláiste pobail Fóla | 758 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 11 km | |
| St Michaels Secondary School | 646 | +4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| St Joseph Of Cluny Secondary School | 270 | +7% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| St Pauls College | 650 | +10% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| St. David's College | 550 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| St. Kevin's Community College | 525 | +41% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle College | 585 | +15% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Coláiste Eoin | 257 | +43% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Kishoge Community College | 937 | +12% | Multi-denominational | English | 11 km | |
| Griffeen Community College | 576 | +317% | Multi-denominational | English | 11 km | |
| St Marys Secondary School | 320 | +0% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy College | 407 | +6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Trinity Comprehensive School | 564 | +15% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| New Cross College | 417 | +110% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Castleknock Community College | 1,318 | +13% | Multi-denominational | English | 12 km | |
| Mercy College Coolock | 402 | −6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Chanel College | 451 | −21% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Holy Child Killiney | 382 | +9% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Manor House School | 652 | −5% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Loreto Abbey Secondary School | 757 | +16% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Coláiste Cois Life | 592 | −27% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 12 km | |
| Coláiste Phádraig CBS | 745 | +38% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Coolock Community College | 205 | +32% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Le Cheile Secondary School | 944 | +26% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| John Scottus Secondary School | 211 | +77% | Inter-denominational | English | 13 km | |
| Luttrellstown Community College | 1,027 | +15% | Multi-denominational | English | 13 km | |
| Lucan Community College | 966 | +5% | Multi-denominational | English | 13 km | |
| St Joseph's College | 934 | +6% | Catholic | English | 13 km | |
| Árdscoil La Salle | 289 | +74% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 13 km |
| Adamstown Community College | 981 | +8% | Multi-denominational | English | 13 km | |
| Scoil Phobail Chuil Mhin | 1,014 | −1% | Inter-denominational | English | 13 km | |
| The Donahies Community School | 488 | +4% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 13 km |
| Holy Family Community School | 998 | +4% | Inter-denominational | English | 13 km | |
| Woodbrook College | 623 | +51% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 14 km |
| Rath Dara Community College | 323 | +28% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 14 km |
| Blakestown Community School | 563 | +31% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 14 km |
| Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School | 595 | +1,883% | Multi-denominational | English | 14 km | |
| Gaelcholáiste Reachrann | 453 | +2% | Inter-denominational | All in Irish | 15 km | |
| Grange Community College | 553 | +98% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 15 km |
| Hartstown Community School | 1,120 | −1% | Inter-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| Pobalscoil Neasáin | 831 | +7% | Inter-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| St. Fintan's High School | 714 | +1% | Catholic | English | 15 km | |
| St Marys Secondary School | 230 | −16% | Catholic | English | 15 km | |
| Eriu Community College | 193 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| Hansfield ETSS | 867 | +34% | Multi-denominational | English | 16 km | |
| Sutton Park School | 503 | +36% | Church of Ireland | English | 16 km | |
| Coláiste Pobail Setanta | 1,079 | +2% | Multi-denominational | English | 16 km | |
| Santa Sabina Dominican College | 754 | +13% | Catholic | English | 16 km | |
| Portmarnock Community School | 955 | +3% | Inter-denominational | English | 18 km | |
| Loreto College | 655 | +4% | Catholic | English | 18 km | |
| Coláiste Choilm | 421 | −23% | Catholic | English | 18 km | |
| Malahide & Portmarnock Secondary School | 696 | +939% | Multi-denominational | English | 18 km | |
| Malahide Community School | 1,250 | +3% | Inter-denominational | English | 18 km | |
| Fingal Community College | 864 | +1% | Inter-denominational | English | 19 km | |
| Swords Community College | 952 | +473% | Multi-denominational | English | 19 km | |
| St Finians Community College | 671 | +4% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 20 km |
| Donabate Community College | 799 | +5% | Multi-denominational | English | 24 km | |
| Lusk Community College | 1,104 | +61% | Multi-denominational | English | 28 km | |
| St Joseph's Secondary School | 945 | +19% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 28 km |
| Skerries Community College | 1,025 | +5% | Inter-denominational | English | 34 km | |
| Ardgillan Community College | 1,014 | +6% | Multi-denominational | English | 35 km | |
| Bremore Educate Together Secondary School | 824 | +124% | Multi-denominational | English | 35 km | |
| Coláiste Ghlór na Mara | 520 | +63% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 35 km | |
| Balbriggan Community College | 686 | +33% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 36 km |
| Loreto Secondary School | 1,220 | −5% | Catholic | English | 36 km |
Living in Rathfarnham
The town’s figures, not this street’s.
Homes in the D14 Eircode area
Housing in Rathfarnham →The median sale price rose from €615,700 in 2023 to €718,800 in 2025 (+17%).
New against second-hand, 2023 to 2025
Property Price Register sales in the D14 Eircode routing area, 2023 to 2025.
Renting in Rathfarnham
Cost of living in Rathfarnham →New tenancies in Rathfarnham averaged €2,244 a month in 2025, against €2,169 in 2024 (+4%).
Residential Tenancies Board rent index, new tenancies, 2024 and 2025.
Location
Directions ↗














Rathfarnham, D14 PP82
Post-primary schools near Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh
Nearest first, as the crow flies, up to 25 km. Each school’s own admission policy decides who gets a place.
Questions about Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh
Is Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh 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 Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh have?
296 pupils in 2025/26. That is +13% since 2019/20.
Does Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh teach through Irish?
Yes: every subject at Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh is taught through Irish.
Who runs Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh?
Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh has a multi-denominational ethos. Its patron is An Foras Pátrúnachta.
How do pupils get a place at Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh?
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 Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh?
The nearest are Loreto High School (0.3 km), De La Salle College (1.2 km) and Our Ladys School (1.4 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 Rathfarnham; 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).