Ballapousta National School
Ardee, Louth
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 186 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 97 girls, 89 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 01554B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballapousta National School is a primary school situated about 4 km from Ardee, operating under a Catholic ethos while welcoming children of all faiths and none. The school currently educates roughly 175 pupils and is staffed by a team of teachers and specialist support assistants, including dedicated provision for autism and special education. Recent European Union funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan has enabled the purchase of Chromebooks, helping to bridge the digital divide and enhance classroom learning with modern technology. The school offers a broad, balanced curriculum complemented by a rich programme of extra‑curricular activities. Pupils benefit from strong sporting traditions and the school has been awarded the “Active School” flag, reflecting its commitment to health and physical education. A focus on partnership with parents and the Board of Management underpins a collaborative approach to learning, and the new school building provides contemporary facilities for both academic and community use.
History
The origins of Ballapousta NS date back to October 1823 when John Taaffe applied to the Kildare Place Society for a grant to construct the school, receiving £40 towards the £130 building cost. The first master, John O’Neill, opened the school in a two‑room, 16 ft × 16 ft premises that initially enrolled 46 children, assisted by a second teacher, Rose O’Neill. The Kildare Society, established to provide primary education for the poor, funded the school’s furnishings, books and upkeep until 1828. Ballapousta was one of four chapel schools in the county, built on church land, and became the first school in the parish to affiliate with the National Board of Education on 23 December 1836, with Edward Matthews as its first recognised teacher. From its inception the school has been mixed‑gender.
Applying to Ballapousta National School
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 primary school dates apply broadly to Ballapousta National School. 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: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 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 Ballapousta National School
How many pupils attend Ballapousta National School?
Ballapousta National School has 186 pupils enrolled, 97 girls and 89 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballapousta National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballapousta National School 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 Ballapousta National School?
Ballapousta National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.