Gaelscoil Chill Dara
Newbridge, Kildare
Key facts
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 288 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 148 girls, 140 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20023A the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelscoil Chill Dara is a full‑Irish primary school situated on An Bóthar Glas, An Currach, just outside Droichead Nua in County Kildare. The school provides an immersion curriculum for children aged 4 to 13, delivering the national primary syllabus entirely through Irish. With a current roll of 333 pupils, the school serves families from New Bridge, Kildare town, Rath Iomgháin and Kilcullen, fostering a close‑knit community that reflects the local catchment area. The school operates under the guidance of the Department of Education and Science and follows the standards set by the patron body, Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán Ghaeilge. A dedicated team of 22 teachers and three classroom support staff organise students into 16 class groups, with specialised support for pupils with additional needs. The daily timetable includes structured teaching periods, regular breaks and a clear end‑of‑day routine, promoting a balanced learning environment. Emphasis is placed on developing self‑confidence, respect for others and strong parent‑school communication, ensuring that each child thrives academically and socially within an Irish‑language setting.
Applying to Gaelscoil Chill Dara
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 Gaelscoil Chill Dara. 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 Gaelscoil Chill Dara
How many pupils attend Gaelscoil Chill Dara?
Gaelscoil Chill Dara has 288 pupils enrolled, 148 girls and 140 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Gaelscoil Chill Dara a DEIS school?
No. Gaelscoil Chill Dara 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.
Does Gaelscoil Chill Dara teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelscoil Chill Dara teaches all subjects through Irish.