Dundalk Grammar School
Dundalk, Louth
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 597 about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 266 girls, 331 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 63920A the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Dundalk Grammar School is a co‑educational, interdenominational day and boarding institution that operates under Protestant management while welcoming pupils of all faiths. The school is governed locally by a Board of Governors and a Board of Management that includes representatives of staff and parents, ensuring a collaborative approach to decision‑making. Fees are reinvested to maintain a broad curriculum offering and to keep class sizes small, allowing for personalised attention and a supportive learning environment. The campus provides a range of facilities suited to both academic and extracurricular pursuits, including dedicated spaces for science, technology, arts and sport. Easy rail connections enable day‑students from Dundalk and the wider hinterland, as well as from north County Dublin, to attend, while the boarding programme attracts students from the north‑eastern counties and overseas. A strong emphasis is placed on holistic development, with a variety of clubs, societies and cultural events that complement the formal curriculum and foster community spirit.
History
Dundalk Grammar School traces its origins to a Charter School founded in 1739, which operated until 1835. In that year it was reorganised by the Rev. Elias Thackeray as the Dundalk Educational Institution. The school entered a period of abeyance during the First World War, but was revived in 1921 by a local committee and reconstituted as Dundalk Grammar School. The committee later expanded into the Board of Governors, which works alongside the Board of Management. Since its foundation the school has been closely associated with the Incorporated Society for Promoting Protestant Schools in Ireland, reflecting its Protestant ethos.
Applying to Dundalk 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 Dundalk 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 Dundalk Grammar School
How many pupils attend Dundalk Grammar School?
Dundalk Grammar School has 597 pupils enrolled, 266 girls and 331 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Dundalk Grammar School a DEIS school?
No. Dundalk 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 Dundalk Grammar School?
Dundalk Grammar School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.