De La Salle College
Dundalk, Louth
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 755 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63891T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
De La Salle College, Dundalk is a co‑educational secondary school that positions itself as a close‑knit community of students, parents, management and staff working together for the common good. Its stated mission is to provide a human and Christian education, with particular attention to pupils who are disadvantaged, fostering an environment of respect, compassion and personal growth. The college offers a full range of programmes from the Junior Cycle through Transition Year to the Senior Cycle, including the Leaving Certificate Applied. Academic provision is complemented by a strong emphasis on cultural and sporting excellence; pupils are encouraged to develop their talents in drama, music and a variety of sports, enabling them to realise their full potential in a balanced curriculum. Facilities on the Castleblayney Road campus support this holistic approach. The site includes a dedicated sports field and a full‑size gymnasium, a modern technology suite, four science laboratories, and a recent expansion providing additional classrooms, offices and specialist rooms. These resources, together with a supportive learning community, aim to deliver a well‑rounded education for over 700 students.
History
The De La Salle Brothers arrived in Dundalk in 1899, taking charge of the Castletown Boys’ National School; a primary school was built in 1914 and the monastery in 1902. De La Salle College itself was founded in 1938 as a “secondary top” and achieved full secondary status in 1970. A new site was purchased from the St Louis Sisters, construction began in 1977 and the college moved to its present Castleblayney Road location in November 1978. Subsequent developments added a sports field (1982), a full‑size gymnasium (1984), a fourteen‑room extension opened in 1999, and a technology suite with additional science labs and classrooms completed in 2014. The first lay principal was appointed in 2003; staff numbers have grown to around fifty teachers, and enrolment has risen from 171 pupils in 1970 to over 700 today. In September 2009 the De La Salle Brothers transferred trusteeship to the Le Chéile Trust, a Catholic schools organisation.
Applying to De La Salle College
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to De La Salle College. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (primary schools: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about De La Salle College
How many pupils attend De La Salle College?
De La Salle College has 755 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is De La Salle College a DEIS school?
No. De La Salle College is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of De La Salle College?
De La Salle College has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.