Bushy Park National School
Bushy Park, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 366 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 189 girls, 177 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13856K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Bushypark National School is a co‑educational primary school situated a short drive from Galway city, serving a wide catchment that includes Knocknacarra, Barna, Salthill, Newcastle, Moycullen and other surrounding areas. The school adopts a child‑centred, active‑learning approach, aiming to stimulate each pupil’s full potential in an environment that promotes mutual respect, responsibility and self‑esteem. A broad and balanced curriculum is complemented by a rich programme of extra‑curricular activities such as speech and drama, STEM club, basketball, chess, music, Gaelic football, hurling and arts and crafts, providing holistic development for all children. The campus features a state‑of‑the‑art, modern building with sixteen mainstream classrooms, numerous support teaching rooms, a well‑resourced library, a spacious school hall and gymnasium, as well as extensive outdoor facilities. These include a large playground, garden, outdoor learning areas and three full‑size Astro‑turf pitches that can be used for soccer or Gaelic games. The school also offers a hot‑meal service under the government’s pilot project, a pre‑school, and before‑ and after‑school care, supporting families throughout the day.
History
Founded in 1837 beside the local church, Bushypark National School moved to a new site in 1973 to meet growing demand. Extensions in 1983 added classrooms, a PE hall, office, staff room and library, with further upgrades in the late 1980s. A new PE hall was built in 1993, and a major refurbishment in 2006 expanded the school to thirteen classrooms and improved administrative and support spaces. In 2011 additional classrooms, four support rooms and first‑floor facilities with lift access were added. A 2014 project levelled the high‑level pitch, creating three accessible soccer pitches that also serve Gaelic games. Today the school accommodates over 380 pupils across Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
Applying to Bushy Park 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 Bushy Park 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 Bushy Park National School
How many pupils attend Bushy Park National School?
Bushy Park National School has 366 pupils enrolled, 189 girls and 177 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Bushy Park National School a DEIS school?
No. Bushy Park 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 Bushy Park National School?
Bushy Park National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.