Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha
Baile Chill Dara, Kildare
Key facts
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 215 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 118 girls, 97 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20428D the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha is an Irish‑medium primary school situated on Bóthar Mhelitta in Baile Chill Dara, County Kildare. The school operates under the patronage of Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán‑Ghaeilge, ensuring that the curriculum is delivered entirely through the Irish language and that Gaelic cultural values are woven into everyday learning. As a community‑focused institution, it provides a nurturing environment where pupils develop fluency in Irish while following the national curriculum, benefitting from a strong emphasis on oral language, literature, and cultural activities. The school benefits from a high‑speed broadband connection supplied through the Department of Education and Youth’s National Broadband Programme, part of the Irish Transition and Recovery Plan (NRRP) funded by the EU’s NextGeneration EU initiative. This infrastructure supports modern teaching resources, digital literacy programmes and enhances communication between home and school. Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha also offers a range of classroom‑based resources and active extracurricular programmes, reflected in its regular publication of annual admission notices and provision of downloadable application forms for junior infants. Key features include its commitment to full Irish‑language immersion, integration within a national educational framework, and access to contemporary digital facilities that support innovative teaching and learning. The school’s location in a vibrant community of Baile Chill Dara allows families to engage with local cultural events, reinforcing the school’s role as a centre for Irish language and heritage.
Applying to Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha
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 Mhic Aodha. 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 Mhic Aodha
How many pupils attend Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha?
Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha has 215 pupils enrolled, 118 girls and 97 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha a DEIS school?
No. Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha 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 Mhic Aodha teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha teaches all subjects through Irish.