Dunkerrin National School
Dunkerrin, Offaly
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 76 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 38 girls, 38 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17336E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Muire, Dunkerrin National School, presents a warm, welcoming and friendly atmosphere for its pupils. The school’s vision is to provide a safe, secure and happy environment where children are actively involved in their own learning and are encouraged and nurtured to develop to the best of their abilities. Emphasis is placed on fostering curiosity, collaboration and confidence through a child‑centred approach that balances structured teaching with opportunities for creative play and outdoor exploration. The campus has evolved considerably since its modest beginnings. Modern facilities now include three well‑equipped classrooms, a purpose‑built library, a contemporary kitchen, indoor toilets and oil‑fired heating, all supplied with electricity and running water. Recent extensions added two further classrooms, bringing the school to current educational standards. These improvements support a broad curriculum and allow for a range of extracurricular activities, reinforcing the school’s commitment to holistic development within a supportive community setting.
History
Scoil Muire, Dunkerrin opened on 12 May 1943, consolidating three earlier rural schools from Cloneganna (1845), Lisduff (1849) and Barna (1879) onto a one‑acre site acquired from the former Frankfort Castle estate. Construction began in 1940 but wartime material shortages delayed completion until 1943. The original building lacked electricity, running water and indoor sanitation, and housed three teachers in two 20 × 20 ft classrooms. In 1969 the school was upgraded with electricity, water, heating, indoor toilets and a third classroom, and absorbed pupils from the closed Emill National School, providing a bus service. A 1986 extension added a purpose room, library and modern kitchen. The most recent development, opened by Bishop Willie Walsh in June 2009, introduced two new classrooms and comprehensive modernisation of the whole facility.
Applying to Dunkerrin 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 Dunkerrin 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 Dunkerrin National School
How many pupils attend Dunkerrin National School?
Dunkerrin National School has 76 pupils enrolled, 38 girls and 38 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Dunkerrin National School a DEIS school?
No. Dunkerrin 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 Dunkerrin National School?
Dunkerrin National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.