Dominican Convent Girls
CABRA WEST, Dublin
Key facts
- DEIS
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 148 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17465P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Catherine’s Senior Girls School is a primary school for girls in classes 2 to 6, situated on Ratoath Road, Cabra West, Dublin 7. The school follows a holistic, Dominican‑inspired ethos that balances academic rigour with spiritual, social and emotional development, guided by the motto *Veritas* (Truth). Learning is enriched through a wide range of extra‑curricular activities, including Gaelic football, FAI football, swimming, tennis, music, drama and a strong emphasis on digital literacy with iPads, Chromebooks and LEGO Spike kits. The campus occupies the first floor of a building erected by the Dominican Sisters in 1944 and shares a large school hall with the adjoining infant school. Facilities include a spacious PE hall, a well‑equipped playground divided into safe class zones, an extensive library, a dedicated wellbeing room with percussion and tuned instruments, and a vibrant music and choir programme. The school is an active Green School, holding a fifth Green Flag for biodiversity and maintaining a garden and walking trail that support environmental education.
History
The school building was constructed by the Dominican Sisters in 1944. In April 2006 the Dominican Sisters transferred the school to the Laurence O’Toole Trust, placing it under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. Since then St. Catherine’s has continued to preserve the Dominican tradition of education, developing each pupil academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally.
Applying to Dominican Convent Girls
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 primary school dates apply broadly to Dominican Convent Girls. 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: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 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 Dominican Convent Girls
How many pupils attend Dominican Convent Girls?
Dominican Convent Girls has 148 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Dominican Convent Girls a DEIS school?
Yes. Dominican Convent Girls is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Dominican Convent Girls?
Dominican Convent Girls has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' primary school.