Drimnagh Castle Secondary School
Walkinstown, Dublin
Key facts
- DEIS
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 521 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60480G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Drimnagh Castle Secondary School is a Christian Brothers secondary school situated on the Long Mile Road in Drimnagh, Dublin, directly adjoining the historic 13th‑century Norman castle that gives the school its name. Operating under the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) Charter, the college delivers a values‑based, Catholic education that prioritises inclusivity, the wellbeing of disadvantaged learners and the holistic development of each pupil. The school’s ethos is built around five key principles that promote partnership, excellence in teaching and learning, a caring community, transformational leadership and active participation in school life. The campus boasts a wide range of specialist facilities to support a broad curriculum, including four well‑stocked science laboratories, two technology labs, a technical graphics room, two art and craft rooms, a dedicated computer suite, a language laboratory and a purpose‑built religion (Edmund Rice) room. Additional resources comprise a modern library, learning support rooms, a large gymnasium with modern dressing rooms and extensive playing fields. In 2021 the school received a grant under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, enabling the purchase of new computing devices, upgrades to digital infrastructure and professional development for staff, further narrowing the digital divide for students at risk of educational disadvantage.
History
Drimnagh Castle Secondary School was founded in 1954 in response to post‑World‑War II population growth in Dublin’s suburbs. Canon Hickey, the parish priest of Crumlin, appealed to the Christian Brothers to establish a primary school for 500 boys, a secondary school for 600 boys and a monastery for thirty brothers. The Brothers acquired thirty‑eight acres on the grounds of the 13th‑century Norman castle at Drimnagh and began construction. The school opened on 30 August 1954 with an initial enrolment of eighty‑four pupils. Early classes were held in converted stables and temporary rooms, and the first principal, Brother Humphrey Callistus Ahern, oversaw the development of the campus and its facilities. Over the ensuing decades the school expanded its academic and sporting programmes, becoming a well‑established institution within the Christian Brothers network and later integrating into the Edmund Rice Schools Trust.
Applying to Drimnagh Castle Secondary School
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
View Drimnagh Castle Secondary School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Drimnagh Castle Secondary School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Drimnagh Castle Secondary School
How many pupils attend Drimnagh Castle Secondary School?
Drimnagh Castle Secondary School has 521 pupils enrolled. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Drimnagh Castle Secondary School a DEIS school?
Yes. Drimnagh Castle Secondary School 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 Drimnagh Castle Secondary School?
Drimnagh Castle Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.