St Columbas College
Dublin 16, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 357 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 160 girls, 197 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60320H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Columba’s College is a co‑educational, 7‑day boarding school set on a 140‑acre campus in the Dublin Hills, overlooking the capital. The college combines a strong academic programme with a broad extra‑curricular offering, encouraging pupils to excel in examinations while also developing talents in sport, music, drama and the visual arts. Daily worship in the historic chapel reflects its Church of Ireland foundation, yet the school welcomes children of all faiths and backgrounds, fostering an inclusive community built around the values of kindness, compassion, inclusion, responsibility and determination. The campus blends historic Georgian and Victorian architecture with modern facilities. Pupils have access to a 9‑hole golf course and training centre, a large gym, cricket pitches, an outdoor swimming pool, all‑weather tennis courts, a sports hall, an art centre, a dedicated music and performing‑arts school, and a recently redeveloped science block. Small boarding and day houses, many staffed by on‑site personnel, create a close‑knit, supportive environment where pastoral care and personal development are prioritised alongside academic achievement.
History
Founded in 1843 by the Rev. William Sewell, the Lord Primate of Ireland, the Earl of Dunraven and others, St. Columba’s College has been linked to the Church of Ireland from its inception while embracing an ecumenical ethos. In 1849 the school relocated from Stackallan House, Co. Meath, to its present 140‑acre site on the slopes of the Dublin mountains, centred on the 18th‑century Hollypark House. Notable historic buildings include the Wardens House, the Cloisters, the Argyle building, the Big Schoolroom and the Butterfield‑designed chapel (1880). Over the past two decades the college has expanded its facilities with a library (1994), a 9‑hole golf course (1995), sports hall (1998), art centre (2000), upgraded boarding houses, new all‑weather tennis courts (2006), a second Astroturf hockey pitch (2007), a music and performing‑arts school (2008) and a complete science block redevelopment (2016).
Applying to St Columbas 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 St Columbas 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 St Columbas College
How many pupils attend St Columbas College?
St Columbas College has 357 pupils enrolled, 160 girls and 197 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is St Columbas College a DEIS school?
No. St Columbas 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 St Columbas College?
St Columbas College has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.