Gaelscoil O Doghair
Caisleán Nua Thiar, Limerick
Key facts
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 201 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 104 girls, 97 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19883U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelscoil Ó Doghair is an all‑Irish, mixed‑gender primary school situated on Station Road in Newcastlewest, Co Limerick. The school caters for roughly 250 pupils ranging from early‑years naíonraí through to senior infants, junior infants and up to sixth class. Irish is the language of instruction and everyday communication, providing an immersive environment that promotes fluency, cultural awareness and a strong sense of identity. The school’s educational ethos combines a commitment to nurturing each child’s individual strengths with the promotion of Christian values. A balanced curriculum seeks to develop academic excellence, personal wellbeing and social responsibility, encouraging pupils to discover the goodness in themselves and others. Extra‑curricular provision includes after‑school clubs, a preschool programme and community‑linked activities, fostering a vibrant, supportive school community. Since moving into a purpose‑built, modern facility in 2006, Gaelscoil Ó Doghair benefits from spacious, purpose‑designed classrooms and specialist spaces that enhance learning. The school remains closely linked with parents, grandparents and the wider community, inviting families to engage in Irish‑language conversation and school life.
History
Gaelscoil Ó Doghair was founded in 1985 with a small cohort of pupils and has grown steadily to its current size of around two‑hundred and fifty students. Initially housed in the Newcastlewest Community Centre, many classes were conducted in prefabricated units. In 2006 the school relocated to a new, purpose‑built building in the heart of the community, providing modern facilities for its expanding enrolment.
Applying to Gaelscoil O Doghair
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 O Doghair. 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 O Doghair
How many pupils attend Gaelscoil O Doghair?
Gaelscoil O Doghair has 201 pupils enrolled, 104 girls and 97 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Gaelscoil O Doghair a DEIS school?
No. Gaelscoil O Doghair 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 O Doghair teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelscoil O Doghair teaches all subjects through Irish.