St Aidan’s Community School: Principal, Status, Key Facts

There’s a school in Tallaght that people often mix up with a similar-sounding one in Cork, and the confusion doesn’t stop at the name. This fact-checked profile pulls together official records to clear up exactly what this public, co-educational school is—and what it isn’t.

School type: Community school (post-primary) ·
Location: Brookfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24 ·
Pupils: 400 (approx.) ·
Roll number: 91338D ·
Ethos: Inter-denominational ·
Funding: Free (public)

Six key facts from the official record, one pattern: the Department of Education’s school database provides the same set of data for every institution, making comparisons straightforward.

Who is the principal of St Aidan’s Community School?

Current principal name

The Department of Education school record for St Aidan’s Community School lists Mr. Kevin Shortall as the principal (Gov.ie Department of Education school record). This is cross-confirmed by the school’s own website and multiple social media identifiers, including a Trinity College Dublin Facebook video that features Shortall speaking as principal (Trinity College Dublin Facebook video).

Principal’s background and experience

Kevin Shortall has been recognised in a DCU Alumni Awards profile, highlighting his leadership at St Aidan’s (DCU Alumni Awards Instagram profile). The school’s history page notes that Michael Meade was the first appointed principal when the school opened in the 1980s, establishing a tradition of long-serving leadership (St Aidan’s Community School history page).

How to contact the principal’s office

The school’s official website (sacs.ie) provides a contact form and administrative details. A Yelp listing lists the phone number as (01) 452 4677 (Yelp business listing), though the school’s own site remains the most reliable channel.

The implication: the principal’s identity is reliably documented and can be verified through official channels.

Is St. Aidan’s a private school?

Definition of a private school

In Ireland, a private school is one that charges fees and is not fully funded by the State. St Aidan’s Community School does not fit this description.

St Aidan’s public status

The Department of Education record explicitly lists the school’s funding as “FREE”, meaning it is a public, no-fee school (Gov.ie Department of Education school record). It is a community school, a model of state-funded post-primary education that operates under a board of management.

DEIS designation and funding

While some public schools receive additional DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) funding, that status has not been confirmed for St Aidan’s in the provided sources. A 2024 Echo.ie article noted that schools across the country were benefiting from €48 million in DEIS funding and mentioned St Aidan’s Community School by name, but the article does not specify whether the school itself is a DEIS recipient (Echo.ie news article).

The implication: St Aidan’s is a public school, period. If DEIS status matters to you, a call to the school’s office will settle it faster than any database.

Is St. Aidan’s a deis school?

What is DEIS?

DEIS is a government programme that provides additional resources to schools serving disadvantaged communities. Schools either have DEIS status or they don’t.

St Aidan’s DEIS status

Neither the Department of Education record nor the school’s official website state a DEIS designation for St Aidan’s Community School (Gov.ie Department of Education school record). The Echo.ie article that references the school in the context of DEIS funding does not claim the school is a DEIS school, only that it was mentioned in the broader coverage.

Impact of DEIS funding on the school

Without a confirmed DEIS tag, it’s impossible to say whether St Aidan’s receives the extra staffing and financial support that comes with the programme. The school’s Facebook page describes it as a “co-educational community school with 400 pupils” but does not mention DEIS (St Aidan’s Community School Facebook page). The catch: for now, DEIS status remains officially unconfirmed.

What is St. Aidan known for?

History of St Aidan’s

St Aidan’s Community School opened in the 1980s. According to the school’s history page, the building was not completed until autumn 1985, so the school spent its first academic year housed elsewhere (St Aidan’s Community School history page). The founding principal was Michael Meade, with Cyril Kevlihan as vice principal.

Reputation and achievements

The school’s motto, displayed on its website, is “Our business is learning” (St Aidan’s Community School official website). It aims for every member of the school community to experience success. The school is co-educational and serves approximately 400 pupils.

Notable programs or features

As an inter-denominational school, St Aidan’s welcomes students of all faiths and none. Its public funding means no tuition fees. The school is located in the Brookfield area of Tallaght, Dublin 24, and is accessible via public transport.

The pattern: the school’s core identity is clear, even if some specifics remain unconfirmed.

What religion is St. Aidan’s?

School ethos

The Department of Education record lists the school’s ethos as “Inter Denominational” (Gov.ie Department of Education school record). This is a formal category meaning the school is not aligned with any single church or faith tradition.

Inter-denominational meaning

In the Irish context, an inter-denominational school is one that respects and includes multiple Christian denominations while also welcoming students of other faiths or no faith. It is distinct from a denominational school (typically Catholic or Church of Ireland) and from a multi-denominational school (e.g., Educate Together).

Religious instruction policy

The school is named after St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, a 7th-century Irish monk known for spreading Christianity in Northumbria. However, the inter-denominational ethos means religious instruction is likely inclusive and non-compulsory, though parents should confirm the exact policy with the school. A search of the school website did not yield a specific religion or ethos policy page.

What this means: parents seeking a faith-based education should note that St Aidan’s is officially inter-denominational, not Catholic or Protestant. The school’s historical namesake doesn’t dictate its day-to-day religious practice.

Timeline

Two key dates matter when understanding St Aidan’s Community School and avoiding confusion with the similarly named institution in Cork.

The pattern: the Tallaght school has a 1980s foundation too, but the Cork school (founded 1983) publishes a uniform policy that often appears in search results for the Tallaght school, causing real-world mix-ups.

Clarity: confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• School is a public, free, co-educational community school (Gov.ie Department of Education school record)
• Located in Tallaght, Dublin 24 (Gov.ie Department of Education school record)
• Roll number 91338D (Gov.ie Department of Education school record)
• Inter-denominational ethos (Gov.ie Department of Education school record)
• Approximately 400 pupils (St Aidan’s Community School Facebook page)
• Principal: Kevin Shortall (Gov.ie Department of Education school record)

What remains unclear

• DEIS designation not confirmed (Gov.ie Department of Education school record)
• Uniform policy not published online for Tallaght school (St Aidan’s Community School official website)
• Exact religious instruction policy not detailed (St Aidan’s Community School official website)
• School hours not published on official website (St Aidan’s Community School official website)
• Admission process not published on official website (St Aidan’s Community School official website)
• Extracurricular activities not listed on school website or Facebook page (St Aidan’s Community School official website)

The implication: while core facts are solid, some details require direct inquiry.

Quotes from the school

“Our business is learning”

— St Aidan’s Community School official website (St Aidan’s Community School official website)

“FREE”

— Gov.ie Department of Education school record (Gov.ie Department of Education school record)

These quotes reinforce the school’s identity and funding status.

For parents in Tallaght, the facts are clear: St Aidan’s is a public, inter-denominational community school with a dedicated principal, but if you’re looking for uniform policy or DEIS status, you’ll need to call the school directly, not rely on search results. The choice is simple—use the official channels, or risk ending up with details for a different school in Cork.

Frequently asked questions

For the most current information, contacting the school directly is recommended.