Dripsey National School
Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 100 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 50 girls, 50 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17245B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Dripsey National School is a mixed, Catholic primary school situated in the parish of Inniscarra, Co. Cork. It provides a co‑educational environment that blends a strong Catholic ethos with a commitment to inclusive education, catering for mainstream pupils, those with special educational needs and special class learners. The school places a particular emphasis on being a Health‑Promoting School, offering a range of creative and sporting activities, and benefits from specialist support such as a visiting speech‑and‑drama teacher and a GAA coach. The current staffing structure includes four mainstream class teachers, two SEN teachers, two special class teachers, an administrative principal, seven special needs assistants, a secretary and a cleaner. Facilities have developed from the original 1939 building to a 1985 extension and further modernisation, providing a range of classrooms and dedicated spaces for specialist programmes. The school’s daily routine is structured to support a balanced academic, physical and social development, with clear timetables for arrivals, breaks, lunch and the end of the day, and provisions for an “ease‑in” period for new infants at the start of the academic year.
History
Before the 1880s a hedge school operated opposite the present garden centre. In the 1880s a two‑teacher school was erected in Magoola, where Michael Murphy and his wife Ann taught. After Michael’s retirement in 1919 his son Batt continued until 1935. Over‑crowding in 1921 led to temporary infant classes in the teacher’s residence. In 1936 John Twohig became principal, and on 3 December 1939 a new school building was opened and blessed by Bishop James Roche. Built by Jackie O’Leary at a cost of £3,400 on land bought from James Ring, the original accommodation for two teachers was quickly expanded to three small classrooms. The school reverted to two teachers in the 1940s‑50s, grew to six teachers by 1983 with two prefabricated units, and a substantial extension opened in September 1985. Following the retirement of long‑serving principals, the school appointed a new principal in 2022 and now operates with a comprehensive team of teachers, SEN staff and specialist coaches, continuing its mission to educate children in the Dripsey area.
Applying to Dripsey 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 Dripsey 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 Dripsey National School
How many pupils attend Dripsey National School?
Dripsey National School has 100 pupils enrolled, 50 girls and 50 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Dripsey National School a DEIS school?
No. Dripsey 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 Dripsey National School?
Dripsey National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.