Loreto College Foxrock
Foxrock, Dublin
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 660 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60240J the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Loreto College Foxrock is a voluntary Catholic, all‑girls, fee‑paying day school situated on spacious, landscaped grounds in Foxrock, South County Dublin. Rooted in the Loreto tradition founded by Mary Ward, the college offers a holistic education across the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Senior Cycle, emphasising academic rigour alongside personal well‑being. The school’s ethos is built on the values of justice, freedom, truth, sincerity and joy, fostering a caring, enabling community where pupils are encouraged to develop critical reflection, independence of mind and a lifelong love of learning. The campus combines historic and modern facilities. Original buildings from the 1940s house the secondary classrooms and the former chapel, now a staff room. Subsequent extensions include a concert hall and science laboratory (mid‑1950s), the St Michael’s block (early 1980s), a sports hall (late 1980s) and a fully equipped gymnasium (2004). These spaces support a broad curriculum that integrates the creative arts, sport, drama and music, allowing students to explore and excel in their individual gifts while nurturing spiritual and moral development.
History
Loreto College Foxrock opened on 8 September 1941 at the request of Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. Initially a small junior and secondary school with only a handful of pupils, it quickly grew to 28 students by spring and 50 by May 1943. The school’s chapel (now the staff room) was constructed in early 1942, and the institution received official secondary school recognition in September 1942. Over the following decades the college expanded its facilities, adding a concert hall and science room (1953‑54), a sports hall (late 1980s) and a gymnasium (2004). The Loreto tradition traces back to Mary Ward’s founding of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1609 and Frances Teresa Ball’s introduction of the order to Ireland in 1821, underpinning the college’s enduring commitment to Catholic education and the empowerment of young women.
Applying to Loreto College Foxrock
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 Loreto College Foxrock. 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 Loreto College Foxrock
How many pupils attend Loreto College Foxrock?
Loreto College Foxrock has 660 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Loreto College Foxrock a DEIS school?
No. Loreto College Foxrock 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 Foxrock?
Loreto College Foxrock has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' post-primary school.