Bishop Shanahan National School
Templeogue, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 437 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 208 girls, 229 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19658N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Bishop Shanahan National School is a Catholic co‑educational primary school situated in the heart of Templeogue, serving children from Junior Infants to Second Class. The school’s ethos combines a warm, inclusive atmosphere with a strong emphasis on Christian values, compassion and respect for all faiths. Learning is framed as a collaborative partnership between staff, parents and the wider parish community, aiming to nurture each child’s self‑worth, confidence and holistic development. The school offers a range of contemporary facilities that support both academic and personal growth. An outdoor classroom, climbing wall, courtyard and dedicated green‑school initiatives provide experiential learning opportunities, while restorative practice programmes foster a positive, supportive culture. Communication with families is streamlined through the Aladdin App and regular newsletters, and the curriculum follows the latest national Primary Curriculum Framework, including updated language and mathematics programmes. A vibrant after‑school programme adds drama, arts, Irish dancing, fitness, music and science clubs, reinforcing the school’s commitment to a well‑rounded education.
History
Bishop Shanahan National School opened as a junior school on 1 September 1979 with eight classes (four Junior and four Senior Infant streams) to relieve capacity pressures at the nearby Bishop Galvin National School. The Holy Ghost Fathers donated part of the land, and the school was named after Bishop Joseph Shanahan, a notable Holy Ghost missionary. It was one of the first co‑educational schools in the area. The permanent school building was inaugurated in January 1987, and enrolments grew to a peak of 719 pupils. Today the school educates approximately 449 pupils, supported by eighteen mainstream teachers, six special‑education teachers and fourteen Special Needs Assistants, and continues to provide a broad range of extra‑curricular activities and strong community links.
Applying to Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan National School
How many pupils attend Bishop Shanahan National School?
Bishop Shanahan National School has 437 pupils enrolled, 208 girls and 229 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Bishop Shanahan National School a DEIS school?
No. Bishop Shanahan 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 Bishop Shanahan National School?
Bishop Shanahan National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.