Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara
Nás na Ríogh, Kildare
Key facts
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 401 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 234 girls, 167 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All pupils taught all subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 68072I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara is an Irish‑medium secondary school situated in the Nás na Ríogh area of County Kildare. The school provides a full‑time, all‑Irish curriculum from first year (Bliain a hAon) through to the Leaving Certificate, with a broad range of academic subjects and a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities. Its educational philosophy centres on creating a welcoming, happy and caring environment where every pupil is valued, respected and encouraged to develop both academically and personally. The school aims to teach students *how* to think rather than *what* to think, fostering enquiry, critical thinking and confidence to ask questions freely. The campus supports a holistic approach to student wellbeing, offering dedicated programmes for emotional, physical, social and spiritual development. Facilities include modern classrooms, specialist rooms for science and technology, a library, sports areas and spaces for creative arts. A comprehensive support system is in place, with daily tutor meetings, learning support services and a well‑being team to ensure each learner can thrive. The school also promotes digital safety and responsible internet use through partnerships with PDST Technology in Education and Webwise. Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara prides itself on high academic standards, consistently strong Leaving Certificate results and a vibrant extracurricular programme that includes sports, music, drama and cultural events. The school’s ethos is underpinned by a commitment to diversity, mutual respect and the promotion of the Irish language within the wider community.
Applying to Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara
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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara. 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 Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara
How many pupils attend Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara?
Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara has 401 pupils enrolled, 234 girls and 167 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara a DEIS school?
No. Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara 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 Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara teaches all subjects through Irish.
Illustration based on a photo by 瑞丽江的河水. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 4.0.