Ballyboughal National School
Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 206 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 91 girls, 115 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19001G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballyboughal National School is a co-educational Catholic primary school in Ballyboughal, Co. Dublin, under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. Nine mainstream classes run from Junior Infants to Sixth Class, supported by three learning support teachers, and the school has an administrative principal. The school day runs from 8.50am to 2.30pm, with infant classes finishing at 1.30pm. Pupils follow the full primary curriculum and can take part in Gaelic football, basketball and athletics outside class time. Promotion of spoken Irish is set out as an aim, expressed in the school's own words as "Déanaímid sár-iarracht labhairt na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn sa scoil seo". The motto is "Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí". The stated mission is to provide a well-ordered learning environment in which the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual needs of pupils are identified and addressed, with an inclusive approach for children of all levels of ability. Where applications exceed places, priority goes to siblings of past and present pupils and children living within the parish boundary, then children of staff, then children in adjacent parishes traditionally served by the school. The premises include a hall used for PE and assemblies, a library, offices and learning support rooms.
History
Ballyboughal National School was established in 1834. Its first building survives in the village and now serves as a community hall. A three-classroom school was put up on a new site opposite the church in 1964. That building was prefabricated but stayed in use for forty years, with further prefabricated rooms added over time. It was demolished in July 2004 and construction of the present school began. From September 2004 to June 2005 the school operated from prefabricated rooms at the rear of the building site, and the move into the current building took place in September 2005. A further prefabricated room was added in 2012 as enrolment continued to grow.
Applying to Ballyboughal 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 Ballyboughal 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 Ballyboughal National School
How many pupils attend Ballyboughal National School?
Ballyboughal National School has 206 pupils enrolled, 91 girls and 115 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballyboughal National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballyboughal 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 Ballyboughal National School?
Ballyboughal National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.