Garran Mhuire
Dublin 14, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 409 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 212 girls, 197 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19374W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Our Lady’s Grove Primary School is a Catholic co‑educational primary school situated on Goatstown Road, Dublin 14. Operating under the trusteeship of the Religious of Jesus and Mary, the school provides a 17‑class mainstream programme for boys and girls from Junior Infants to Sixth Class, together with dedicated special‑needs provision. The school’s ethos centres on a child‑focused education that promotes inclusion, tolerance, respect and an openness to the wider world, aiming to develop each child’s academic, creative, moral and spiritual potential. The campus features a modern 16‑classroom building completed in 2012, which houses all mainstream classes under one roof, alongside specialist facilities managed by a caretaker. A strong partnership between the Board of Management, an active Parent Association and the wider school community supports a friendly family atmosphere and a commitment to high academic standards. Extra‑curricular activities, regular parent‑teacher events and a focus on the overall development of each pupil further enrich the learning experience.
History
Founded by the Religious of Jesus & Mary, the school’s origins trace back to 1955 when permission was granted by Archbishop Dr McQuaid to open a house for the sisters in Dublin. After relocating to a larger house in Milltown in 1958, the order secured approval to establish a school in 1959. A suitable site at Roebuck Grove, Goatstown Road, was found and the school opened on 3 September 1963 with 33 pupils, of which 15 formed the first secondary cohort recognised in February 1964. In 1964 a separate junior block of four classrooms was added, later expanded with prefabricated units. The private junior school became a public National School in 1971, and the secondary section entered the Free Education Scheme. Subsequent developments included the construction of a brown‑brick primary building, the Silver Jubilee in 1989, and extensive building programmes in the 2000s culminating in the new 16‑classroom primary building opened in August 2012. The school became fully co‑educational and saw its first lay chairperson and principal in the early 2000s, reflecting its evolution into a modern, inclusive primary school.
Applying to Garran Mhuire
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 Garran Mhuire. 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 Garran Mhuire
How many pupils attend Garran Mhuire?
Garran Mhuire has 409 pupils enrolled, 212 girls and 197 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Garran Mhuire a DEIS school?
No. Garran Mhuire 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 Garran Mhuire?
Garran Mhuire has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.