Terenure College
Terenure, Dublin
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 800 larger than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 60570H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Terenure College is a voluntary Catholic secondary school for boys, operating under the trusteeship of the Irish Province of the Carmelites. It offers a six‑year programme comprising a three‑year Junior Cycle, a compulsory Transition Year and a two‑year Leaving Certificate curriculum. The college follows a mixed‑ability teaching model in the first three years, with set streams for English, Irish and Mathematics in second and third year to cater for differing academic levels. The school provides a broad range of facilities and support services. A full‑time special‑needs teacher and dedicated resource hours assist pupils with additional learning requirements, while year‑heads, tutors, guidance counsellors, a chaplaincy team and a school nurse contribute to a holistic pastoral care system. Pupils benefit from a modern canteen, supervised study sessions in the evenings and a vibrant co‑curricular programme that includes sport, spirituality, social awareness and various clubs. With approximately 65 whole‑time teachers, the college maintains small class sizes and a strong emphasis on both academic achievement and personal development.
History
Founded in 1860, Terenure College has a proud tradition of over 160 years of Catholic education. It has continuously operated under the Carmelite trusteeship, evolving its curriculum and facilities while maintaining its commitment to the spiritual, academic and social formation of its pupils.
Applying to Terenure 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 Terenure 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 Terenure College
How many pupils attend Terenure College?
Terenure College has 800 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Terenure College a DEIS school?
No. Terenure 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 Terenure College?
Terenure College has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by Scolaire. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 4.0.