Drogheda Grammar School
Drogheda, Louth
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 557 about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 222 girls, 335 boys
- Ethos
- Quaker
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63870L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Drogheda Grammar School is a co‑educational, multi‑denominational secondary school situated on an 18‑acre rural campus on Mornington Road, Drogheda, County Louth. The school’s ethos, rooted in the principle that “every individual is of value and has something to offer”, underpins a learning environment that encourages academic excellence, personal development and inclusive community life. Teaching is delivered across modern classroom blocks equipped with high‑tech computer rooms, science laboratories, technical drawing facilities, an art and craft studio, a dedicated economics suite, a music room and a well‑stocked Library Learning and Resource Centre. The campus blends historic architecture, a Regency house surrounded by woodland, with contemporary sport and leisure facilities, including three tennis courts, five playing pitches (hockey, soccer and rugby) with a flood‑lit astro‑turf, a large gymnasium housing four badminton courts and full‑size basketball and volleyball courts, and a stage for drama and musical productions. A spacious dining hall and full‑service canteen support daily life. A compulsory Transition Year offers a broad curriculum of subjects such as horticulture, media studies, robotics and first aid, complemented by a vibrant extracurricular programme that features clubs ranging from chess and Model United Nations to choir and car mechanics, and a wide array of team sports.
History
Founded under a Royal Charter in 1669 by Erasmus Smith, Drogheda Grammar School is one of Ireland’s oldest secondary schools, now celebrating over 350 years of continuous education. Originally a boys’ boarding school located beside St Laurence’s Gate in Drogheda town centre, it moved to its present Mornington Road site in 1976. The school became co‑educational more than fifty years ago. In the early 1950s a charitable company, Drogheda Grammar School Ltd, was established by local community members (predominantly Quakers) to safeguard the school’s future; although not a Quaker school, it operates under the Quaker ethos of valuing every individual. Today the school serves around 529 pupils on a campus that combines historic Regency buildings with modern facilities.
Applying to Drogheda Grammar 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Drogheda Grammar School. 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 Drogheda Grammar School
How many pupils attend Drogheda Grammar School?
Drogheda Grammar School has 557 pupils enrolled, 222 girls and 335 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Drogheda Grammar School a DEIS school?
No. Drogheda Grammar School 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 Drogheda Grammar School?
Drogheda Grammar School has a Quaker ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.