Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí
Trá Lí, Kerry
Key facts
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 312 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 186 girls, 126 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- All pupils taught all subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 70560K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí is an all-Irish post-primary college in Trá Lí, County Kerry, operating under the patronage of Kerry Education and Training Board. Every subject except other languages is taught through Irish. The school moved to a new campus in Cloonmore, Tralee, in April 2023. That building contains 22 general classrooms, 4 science laboratories, a library, and specialist rooms for Art, Technical Graphics, Materials Technology Wood, Music, Home Economics and ICT. A sports hall, fitness suite and four basketball courts are also on site, with a hurling wall and training pitch planned for a later phase. The curriculum follows the Junior Cycle programme, Transition Year and Senior Cycle. The school also provides for additional educational needs, wellbeing, SPHE and RSE programmes, and guidance services. Enrolment stands at 312 students. The college is mixed gender and multi-denominational in ethos.
History
The school traces its origins to April 1982, when the board of management of Scoil Mhic Easmainn, an all-Irish primary school in Trá Lí, asked the Department of Education to provide second-level education through Irish in the town. After a series of proposals and negotiations, the Department agreed in July 1984 to establish an all-Irish unit within Tralee Community College. That unit opened on 1 September 1984 with ten pupils under teacher Pádraig Ó Dálaigh. In January 1989 the Minister for Education decided to make the unit a separate community college. Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí came into existence on 1 September 1989 in the old vocational school building at Tobar Mhaigh Dor, with about 60 students. It was the first all-Irish second-level school outside Dublin and the Gaeltacht areas. The first Leaving Certificate was taken at the school in June 1990.
Applying to Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí
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 Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí. 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 Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí
How many pupils attend Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí?
Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí has 312 pupils enrolled, 186 girls and 126 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí a DEIS school?
No. Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí 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.
Does Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí teaches all subjects through Irish.