Holy Spirit Boys National School
Ballymun, Dublin
Key facts
- DEIS
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 229 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19208F the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Holy Spirit Boys’ National School is a Roman Catholic primary school situated in the heart of Ballymun, Dublin. It serves approximately 260 boys and employs a dedicated team of 26 staff members, offering 14 mainstream classes together with a specialised autism class. The school provides a well‑equipped learning environment that includes modern classrooms, a computer suite, and extensive play areas, enabling a secure and welcoming setting for both academic and personal development. The curriculum balances cultural, spiritual and academic learning, with regular programmes in sport, art and craft, and occasional field trips to galleries and exhibitions across Dublin. A strong emphasis is placed on inclusive education, with eight special‑education teachers for English and maths, a support teacher and a Home School Liaison Teacher. Close links with local sports clubs, community organisations and secondary schools further enrich the pupils’ experience and foster a sense of community involvement.
History
Holy Spirit Boys and Girls School opened on Monday 3 July 1967 with 164 boys and 160 girls enrolled. Shortly after its inception the school was divided into separate boys’ and girls’ schools. At its peak the combined institution accommodated around 1 100 pupils. Since then the boys’ school has continued to serve the Ballymun community, evolving its facilities and programmes to meet contemporary educational needs.
Applying to Holy Spirit Boys 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 Holy Spirit Boys 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 Holy Spirit Boys National School
How many pupils attend Holy Spirit Boys National School?
Holy Spirit Boys National School has 229 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Holy Spirit Boys National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Holy Spirit Boys National School is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Holy Spirit Boys National School?
Holy Spirit Boys National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' primary school.