Malahide Community School
Malahide, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 1,250 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 620 girls, 630 boys
- Ethos
- Inter Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 91325R the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Malahide Community School is a co‑educational, multi‑denominational post‑primary institution that welcomes pupils of all religious backgrounds. Operating under the joint patronage of the Archdiocese of Dublin and Dublin Dún Laoghaire ETB, the school delivers a comprehensive curriculum for the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Leaving Certificate, alongside a robust adult‑education programme for the wider community. Its educational philosophy stresses the development of spiritual and moral values, personal and social skills, and the pursuit of academic excellence, fostering an inclusive environment where every learner can reach their full potential. The school’s facilities are centred on a purpose‑built, bespoke building erected in February 2007, which provides modern classrooms, specialist laboratories, and spaces for sport, arts and technology. A strong emphasis is placed on extracurricular achievement, with notable successes in Leinster sports championships, variety shows and community projects such as the TY Food Clothing Collection. The school also promotes lifelong learning, offering leisure and continuing‑education opportunities that reinforce its role as a community hub.
History
The origins of Malahide Community School trace back to 1953 when Mrs Catherine Dowling founded Stella Maris School, a secondary school for girls in Malahide. In 1958 the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus opened a convent secondary school at Broomfield, which became Scoil Íosa, initially enrolling 17 female students. A junior school was added in 1959 and, in 1971, the community moved into a new building for 300 pupils. In 1976 Scoil Íosa joined the Community School system, was renamed Pobalscoil Íosa, and under the first principal Sr Kathleen Day was officially opened by Archbishop Ryan on 18 May 1977 with a roll of just over 500. The Sisters continued to serve for more than two decades. A state‑of‑the‑art building replaced the original structure in February 2007, and today the school educates over 1,200 students while retaining the founding Christian values and the inclusive ethos of the Dublin Dún Laoghaire ETB.
Applying to Malahide Community 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 Malahide Community 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 Malahide Community School
How many pupils attend Malahide Community School?
Malahide Community School has 1,250 pupils enrolled, 620 girls and 630 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Malahide Community School a DEIS school?
No. Malahide Community 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 Malahide Community School?
Malahide Community School has an Inter Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.