Schools in Lucan: Primary & Secondary Guide for Families
There are 17 mainstream primary schools and seven secondary schools in Lucan, plus a new community special school. Families can choose Catholic, Church of Ireland, Educate Together, community national and Irish-medium primary schools. At second level, the choice includes single-sex Catholic schools, four community colleges and an all-Irish Gaelcholáiste.
Why a Lucan School Guide Helps Families Moving Here
Choosing between schools in Lucan can feel overwhelming if you don’t know the area. The town has grown quickly, so new schools now sit alongside long-established village schools. As a result, the options depend a lot on which part of Lucan you’re looking at.
This guide lists every primary and secondary school by area, with its type and ethos. It also explains how admissions work in Ireland. However, it doesn’t rank schools, because the right school depends on your child and your family.
If you’re selling and want to know how schools affect value, read our separate guide on how Lucan school catchments affect house prices.
Types of Schools in Lucan
Before you look at individual schools, it helps to understand the main school types. Each type has a different patron, and the patron sets the school’s ethos.
Primary School Types
- Catholic schools: The largest group. Most have the Archbishop of Dublin as patron. Several are single-sex, while others take boys and girls.
- Church of Ireland school: St Andrew’s NS near the village is a mixed school with a Church of Ireland ethos.
- Educate Together schools: Multi-denominational, co-educational schools. Lucan has five of them.
- Community national school: A multi-denominational school under Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB (DDLETB).
- Gaelscoileanna: Irish-medium schools, where children learn every subject through Irish.
Secondary School Types
- Voluntary secondary schools: Coláiste Phádraig CBS (boys) and St Joseph’s College (girls) both have a Catholic ethos.
- Community colleges: Four mixed, multi-denominational schools under DDLETB.
- Gaelcholáiste: Coláiste Cois Life teaches all subjects through Irish to a mixed student body.
Also, note the junior and senior split in some areas. In Esker and Balgaddy, for example, children attend a junior school first and then move to a linked senior school.
Primary Schools in Lucan by Area
The tables below group primary schools by area. In each case, the type and ethos come from the Department of Education’s school records.
Lucan Village and Lucan Road
| School | Type / Ethos | Pupils | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary’s BNS (Lucan BNS) | Catholic | Boys | Chapel Hill |
| Scoil Mhuire GNS | Catholic | Girls | Lucan Road |
| St Andrew’s NS | Church of Ireland | Mixed | St Edmundsbury, Lucan Road |
These three schools serve the older heart of Lucan. They suit families looking at the village, Lucan Heights, Sarsfield Park and the roads off the Lucan Road.
Esker, Woodview and Castle Road
| School | Type / Ethos | Pupils | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Thomas’ JNS | Catholic, junior school | Mixed | Esker, Newcastle Road |
| Scoil Áine Naofa | Catholic, senior school | Mixed | Esker, Newcastle Road |
| Scoil Mhuire | Catholic, infants to sixth class | Mixed | Woodview Heights |
| Esker Educate Together NS | Multi-denominational | Mixed | The Glebe, Esker Lane |
| Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig | Irish-medium, Catholic | Mixed | Castle Road |
St Thomas’ JNS and Scoil Áine Naofa share a campus. Children typically start in St Thomas’ and then continue in Scoil Áine Naofa for the senior classes.
Griffeen and Willsbrook
| School | Type / Ethos | Pupils | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucan Educate Together NS | Multi-denominational | Mixed | Mount Bellew Way, Willsbrook |
| Griffeen Valley Educate Together NS | Multi-denominational | Mixed | Griffeen Glen Boulevard |
| Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada | Irish-medium, Catholic | Mixed | Griffeen Road |
This cluster sits close to Griffeen Valley Park. Consequently, many children here walk or cycle to school along the park paths.
Balgaddy
| School | Type / Ethos | Pupils | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divine Mercy JNS | Catholic, junior school | Mixed | Lynch’s Lane |
| Divine Mercy SNS | Catholic, senior school | Mixed | Balgaddy Road |
| Lucan Community National School | Multi-denominational (DDLETB) | Mixed | Balgaddy Road |
Divine Mercy SNS was previously known as Archbishop Ryan SNS. You may still see the old name on older maps and listings.
Adamstown and Kishogue
| School | Type / Ethos | Pupils | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| St John the Evangelist NS | Catholic | Mixed | Station Road, Adamstown |
| Adamstown Castle Educate Together NS | Multi-denominational | Mixed | Station Road, Adamstown |
| Lucan East Educate Together NS | Multi-denominational | Mixed | Thomas Omer Way, Kishogue |
In addition, South Dublin County Council has reported new primary schools in the pipeline. These include a school at Tandy’s Lane in Adamstown and another off Thomas Omer Way in Clonburris.
Secondary Schools in Lucan
Lucan has seven secondary schools. All seven offer Transition Year, and none charges fees.
Secondary Schools at a Glance
| School | Type / Ethos | Students | Language | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coláiste Phádraig CBS | Voluntary secondary, Catholic | Boys | English | Roselawn, Lucan |
| St Joseph’s College | Voluntary secondary, Catholic | Girls | English | Lucan Road |
| Lucan Community College | Community college (DDLETB) | Mixed | English | Esker Drive |
| Coláiste Cois Life | Gaelcholáiste (DDLETB) | Mixed | Irish | Griffeen Glen |
| Kishoge Community College | Community college (DDLETB) | Mixed | English | Thomas Omer Way |
| Griffeen Community College | Community college (DDLETB) | Mixed | English | Griffeen Avenue (new building) |
| Adamstown Community College | Community college (DDLETB) | Mixed | English | Station Road, Adamstown |
Points Worth Knowing
Griffeen Community College opened in 2017 and has operated from the Kishoge campus on Thomas Omer Way. Meanwhile, the Department of Education is building a new 1,000-pupil school for Griffeen at Kishogue Cross, Griffeen Avenue. So check the school’s website for its current location.
Coláiste Cois Life suits families who want their child to continue learning through Irish. However, its admission policy sets out how it treats applicants from English-medium schools, so read it carefully.
Special Education in Lucan
Lucan Community Special School is a new DDLETB school on Griffeen Avenue. It took applications for the 2026/27 school year through a central DDLETB process.
Several mainstream schools also run special classes, including autism classes. For example, Scoil Mhuire on Woodview Heights runs two autism classes. Because special-class places are scarce, contact each school directly to ask what it offers.
How School Admissions Work in Lucan
Irish schools don’t use fixed catchment maps. Instead, every school sets its own rules under the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.
The Key Rules for Parents
- Read the admission policy: Every school must publish its policy on its website.
- Watch for the annual admission notice: It gives the dates, the application form and the number of places.
- Apply in the year before entry: Schools can’t start their admission process before 1 October of the previous year.
- Don’t rely on waiting lists: Schools can no longer give priority based on when you applied.
- Expect no application fees: Schools can’t charge for applying or enrolling.
- Know your right to appeal: If a school refuses a place, you can ask the board to review it and then appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
What Happens When a School Is Full
Where a school has enough places, it must admit every applicant. When it receives more applications than places, it applies the criteria in its policy. Common criteria include siblings, a defined catchment area, distance from home and, for secondary schools, feeder primary schools.
Religion no longer counts at most primary schools. That said, minority-faith schools such as St Andrew’s may still protect their ethos in limited ways. Similarly, secondary schools can reserve no more than 25% of places for children of past pupils.
Practical Tips for Families Moving to Lucan
Moving house and changing school at the same time takes planning. The following steps can help.
- Shortlist schools before you shortlist houses. Then check which estates sit within a realistic walk or cycle.
- Apply to more than one school. Because each school runs its own process, you can apply to several at once.
- Check the dates early. Admission notices appear in the autumn, so diary them before you move.
- Ask about mid-year places. If you move during the school year, phone the school, since places sometimes come up.
- Visit in person. Most schools run open days, so you can see the school and meet the staff.
Advice From Team Lorraine
At Team Lorraine, families moving to Lucan often ask us about schools before anything else. In practice, the best approach is to pick two or three schools that suit your child, then focus your house search around them.
We know the estates, the walking routes and the school runs across Lucan. Therefore, we can help you narrow down areas that fit your family. For a full picture of local prices, see our guide to Lucan house prices by area.
Conclusion
Families have a wide choice of schools in Lucan, from village schools to Gaelscoileanna and Educate Together schools. Each area has its own cluster, so your choice of school can guide your choice of home.
Always read each school’s admission policy and annual admission notice before you apply. Then, once you know which schools suit you, finding the right home becomes much easier.
Talk to Team Lorraine
Whether you’re moving to Lucan or selling to move within it, contact Lorraine Mulligan at Team Lorraine for local advice.
📞 +353 1 627 2770
📍 Unit 2, Lower Main Street, Lucan, Co Dublin
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Lucan?
Lucan has 17 mainstream primary schools and seven secondary schools. In addition, Lucan Community Special School opened for applications for the 2026/27 school year. The schools cover Catholic, Church of Ireland, Educate Together, community national and Irish-medium options, so most families find a type that suits them within a short distance of home.
Are there Gaelscoileanna in Lucan?
Yes. Lucan has two Irish-medium primary schools: Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig on Castle Road and Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada on Griffeen Road. At second level, Coláiste Cois Life teaches every subject through Irish. As a result, a child can complete their full education through Irish without leaving Lucan.
Which secondary schools in Lucan are co-educational?
Five of Lucan’s seven secondary schools take boys and girls. These are Lucan Community College, Kishoge Community College, Griffeen Community College, Adamstown Community College and Coláiste Cois Life. By contrast, Coláiste Phádraig CBS takes boys only, while St Joseph’s College takes girls only.
When should I apply for a school place in Lucan?
Apply in the school year before your child starts. Schools can’t open their admission process before 1 October of the previous year, so most applications open in the autumn. However, each school sets its own dates, so check every annual admission notice on the school’s website and apply to more than one school.
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