Loreto College
Dublin 2, Dublin
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 588 about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60820E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Situated at 53/55 St. Stephen's Green in Dublin 2, Loreto College is a Catholic secondary school for girls with 588 students. It belongs to the worldwide network of schools run by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and its educational philosophy is described as centred in God. The curriculum covers Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Senior Cycle, with classes timetabled in one hour blocks, and learning support and a school library form part of the academic provision. Students are grouped in a house system, and leadership runs through a student council and a leadership committee. Pastoral structures include a chaplains' office, a buddy system and Caomhnóir. Sport is unusually broad, taking in athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, equestrian, GAA, gymnastics, hockey, rowing, sailing, soccer, swimming, table tennis, tag rugby and tennis. Debating is offered in English, Irish, Spanish and French, and music through Ceilúir, a folk group and an orchestra. Social justice groups include Amnesty International, Model United Nations and the Mary Ward Social Justice Group. The school runs the Teresa Ball Access Programme.
Applying to Loreto College
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
View Loreto College's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Loreto College. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Loreto College
How many pupils attend Loreto College?
Loreto College has 588 pupils enrolled. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Loreto College a DEIS school?
No. Loreto College 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 Loreto College?
Loreto College has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.