Bunaíodh Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, ar dtús mar aonad Lán-Ghaeilge sa Choláiste Pobail i dTrá Lí i 1984, agus ansin mar scoil neamhspleách dara leibhéal ar a suíomh féin i 1989. B'iad Conradh na Gaeilge agus tuismitheoirí a raibh a bpáistí ag freastal ar na Gaelscoileanna áitiúla, chomh maith le Coiste Gairmoideachais Thrá Lí (Seirbhís Óideachas Chiarraí) a bhunaigh an scoil. Freastalaíonn an Ghaelch
oláiste ar dhaltaí a fuair a gcuid oideachais trí Ghaeilge ag an mbunleibhéal. Freastalaíonn an Coláiste chomh maith ar dhaltaí nach bhfuair a gcuid bunoideachais trí Ghaeilge, ach atá báúil léi. Feidhmíonn Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí faoi choimirce Sheirbhís Oideachas Chiarraí.Tá bord bainistíochta aige ar a bhfuil ionadaithe na dtuismitheoirí, na múinteoirí, na n-eaglaisí agus na n-eagraíochta Gaeilge agus ionadaithe atá ainmnithe ag Seirbhís Oideachais Chiarraí. The school was founded, originially as an All-Irish stream in the Community College in Tralee in 1984, and in 1989 it moved to its own site in Moyderwell. Conradh na Gaeilge and the parents of those children that were attending the local Gaelscoileanna were amongst those that established the school in co-operation with Tralee VEC (now Kerry Education Services). Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí caters for students who undertook their primary education in an All-Irish school. The school also caters for those that did not receive their primary education as Gaeilge but would like to continue so. Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí operates under the auspices of Kerry Education Service. It has a Board of Management which consists of representatives of parents, teachers,the churches and Irish language arganisations, and members nominated by Kerry Education Service. Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí is a non denominational school.
