Holy Child Secondary School
Killiney, Dublin
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 382 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60250M the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Holy Child Secondary School, Killiney, is a Catholic girls’ secondary school that delivers a broad, balanced curriculum rooted in the educational philosophy of Mother Cornelia Connelly. The school seeks to nurture the intellectual, spiritual, artistic, social and physical development of each pupil within an atmosphere of openness, trust and Catholic values. Academic challenge is paired with a joy of learning, encouraging students to become confident, caring young women who can make thoughtful decisions and act as agents of positive change. The campus is set in a scenic coastal location and provides a range of specialist facilities designed to support holistic development. These include an all‑weather sports pitch, a modern sports hall, state‑of‑the‑art science laboratories, a well‑stocked library and creative spaces such as Cornelia’s Labyrinth. A comprehensive student‑support system involves all staff in the welfare of learners, fostering a caring community where friendships flourish and personal growth is celebrated. Extra‑curricular provision spans the arts, sport and community outreach, ensuring pupils have ample opportunity to explore interests beyond the classroom and develop lifelong skills.
History
Holy Child Killiney opened in September 1947 in the former County Hotel, initially enrolling 34 pupils under the auspices of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Founded on Mother Cornelia Connelly’s progressive educational ideals, rejecting rote learning in favour of respectful, engaging, and imaginative teaching, the school rapidly expanded. A new wing adding classrooms, a library and a hall was completed in 1950, followed by the construction of a chapel with a distinctive stained‑glass wall in 1962. Subsequent decades saw the addition of an all‑weather sports pitch, a sports hall and modern science laboratories, with further development outlined in a current Master Plan. Governance is overseen by a Board of Management appointed in 1989, while the school continues to uphold the Society’s founding principles.
Applying to Holy Child 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Holy Child Secondary 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 Holy Child Secondary School
How many pupils attend Holy Child Secondary School?
Holy Child Secondary School has 382 pupils enrolled. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Holy Child Secondary School a DEIS school?
No. Holy Child Secondary 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 Holy Child Secondary School?
Holy Child Secondary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.