Rath Dara Community College
Blanchardstown Road North, Dublin
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 323 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 147 girls, 176 boys
- Ethos
- Inter Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 70081V the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Rath Dara Community College is a co‑educational secondary school that positions itself as a “new school experience” built on a strong ethos of cooperation, inclusion and community partnership. Its mission is to provide a positive, safe and inclusive learning environment where diversity is celebrated and every student is encouraged to reach their full potential. The college’s curriculum is complemented by a range of extracurricular programmes, including sport, arts, technology and cultural activities such as the Intercultural Day, Viking tours, and collaborations with IBM Volunteers for programming and app development. Emphasis is placed on personal development through initiatives like the “Money Makes Sense in School” financial literacy programme and a robust Transition Year offering trips to sites such as the Hell Fire Club and Dublin’s Viking heritage locations. The school utilises modern digital tools to support teaching and administration, including VSware for attendance, exam results and behaviour tracking, and Google Classroom for classroom interaction. A dedicated “Pathway to Rath Dara” supports incoming first‑year students and their families, while a “Pathway to Senior Cycle” provides guidance for post‑Junior‑Cert progression. The college also promotes environmental stewardship through its Green Code and maintains strong links with local employers, past pupils and community organisations to enhance learning opportunities.
Applying to Rath Dara Community 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Rath Dara Community College. 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 Rath Dara Community College
How many pupils attend Rath Dara Community College?
Rath Dara Community College has 323 pupils enrolled, 147 girls and 176 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Rath Dara Community College a DEIS school?
Yes. Rath Dara Community College is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Rath Dara Community College?
Rath Dara Community College has an Inter Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.