Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School
Ranelagh, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 221 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 111 girls, 110 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19928Q the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ranelagh Multi‑Denominational School (RMDS) is an independent primary school situated on Ranelagh Road, Dublin 6, operating under the Educate Together umbrella while retaining its own patron. The school provides co‑educational, democratically run education for children from junior infants to sixth class, guided by four core principles: co‑educational learning, democratic governance, inclusive practice and a collaborative team approach. Its ethos promotes equal respect for all, regardless of age, gender, religion, cultural background or ability, and encourages active community involvement, parental partnership and a willingness to incorporate expertise from outside the teaching staff. The campus comprises a purpose‑built building opened in 1998, an 2007 extension adding two teaching rooms, a multi‑purpose space (An Seomra Spraoi), a meeting room, enhanced office facilities and a staffroom. A dedicated Sensory Room (2020) supports pupils with specific sensory needs, and the school hall is available for community hire. RMDS also offers a range of extra‑curricular activities, including a forest school, and provides on‑site child‑care facilities, reflecting its commitment to holistic learning and living together in the world.
History
The school originated from a parent‑led initiative in May 1988 when St Columba’s Church of Ireland National School faced closure. Parents formed the Ranelagh Multi‑Denominational School Association to become the patron, securing the site and negotiating provisional recognition from the Department of Education in December 1989, back‑dated to September 1988. Initially operating in temporary prefabricated structures, the school moved into a new purpose‑built building in September 1998 after a phased building programme. An extension completed in September 2007 added further teaching spaces and facilities, and a Sensory Room was introduced in 2020 to support diverse learning needs.
Applying to Ranelagh Multi-Denominational 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 primary school dates apply broadly to Ranelagh Multi-Denominational 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: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 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 Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School
How many pupils attend Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School?
Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School has 221 pupils enrolled, 111 girls and 110 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School a DEIS school?
No. Ranelagh Multi-Denominational 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 Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School?
Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by Zymurgy. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 4.0.