Monastery National School
Ardee, Louth
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 244 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 36 girls, 208 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17124M the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Monastery National School is the longest‑established primary school in Ardee, catering for approximately 260 pupils. Since September 2022 the school has been fully co‑educational, offering places in Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd classes. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy while also delivering a balanced programme of music, art, drama, sport and pupil wellbeing, ensuring each child receives a rounded education. The school benefits from a newly refurbished and extended building that houses eleven mainstream classrooms, double cubicle toilets for each gender, and dedicated support staff including six support teachers and an English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher. Facilities include a large gymnasium with a climbing wall and sensory stations, state‑of‑the‑art ICT provision (high‑speed Wi‑Fi, Activpanel, PCs, HD webcam, laptops, iPads and Chromebooks) and extensive printing services. Outdoor provision comprises a secure infant yard with modern play equipment, a Wendy House and go‑karts, plus a senior yard with a perspex shelter, soccer pitches, a basketball court, benches, a school field with Gaelic football posts, a nature walk and a running track – the most comprehensive playing provision in the north‑east.
History
The school was founded by the De La Salle order in 1889 in a building opposite the junction of John Street and the N2, a stone bearing the school name still marks the original site. The present national school building opened in 1938, replacing the earlier Monastery school, and was praised by the Irish Independent as “one of the finest schools in the country”. The De La Salle Brothers taught there until 1975. Subsequent principals have been Br Ultan Sherlock (last brother principal), Billy Hennessy (first lay principal, appointed 1994), Maura Melia (2009), Jim McGee (until 2025) and Ms Regina O’Malley (from September 2025). Girls were admitted for the first time on 31 August 2022, marking a historic change after 132 years. The school crest features four quadrants representing academic, artistic, physical and spiritual education, centred by the De La Salle star; the motto is “Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh Sí” (Encourage the young and they will prosper).
Applying to Monastery 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 Monastery 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 Monastery National School
How many pupils attend Monastery National School?
Monastery National School has 244 pupils enrolled, 36 girls and 208 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Monastery National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Monastery 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 Monastery National School?
Monastery National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.