Monksland National School
CARLINGFORD, Louth
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 139 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 70 girls, 69 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18312S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Monksland National School is a warm, community‑centred, co‑educational primary school situated on the scenic Cooley Peninsula in County Louth. It welcomes children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class and provides a balanced provision of six mainstream classes together with two dedicated Autism Spectrum (AS) classes. A robust support team, including special education teachers, additional needs assistants and ancillary staff, ensures that every pupil receives the individual attention required to thrive academically, socially and spiritually within a Catholic ethos. The school’s educational philosophy combines high expectations with strong, nurturing support, aiming to make learning joyful, meaningful and inclusive. Partnerships with parents and the wider parish community are central to fostering each child’s intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual development. Recent enhancements to the campus include a modernised entrance, additional classrooms, a contemporary office, sensory rooms, a soft‑play yard and upgraded facilities, all designed to accommodate a growing roll of 139 pupils and to support a vibrant, forward‑looking learning environment.
History
The origins of Monksland National School date back to the 1840s when Rev. Edward Holland secured funding from the National Board, leading to the opening of the original school in Grange in October 1842. After 120 years of service, a new building was erected half a mile away in 1960. The school celebrated the 50th anniversary of this building in 2010, at which time it had four teachers and fewer than 90 pupils. Expansion continued with a new extension in 2015, adding a new entrance, extra classrooms, a modern office and updated facilities. In 2023 the school further expanded to include two AS classes, sensory rooms and a soft‑play yard. Today the roll stands at 139 children supported by a staff of 30. Principals since 1960: Mr George Lowe (1960‑61), Mr Dermot Keelan (1961‑75), Mr Micheál Dineen (1975‑2002), Mr Peter McCaul (2003‑09), Mr John Farrell (2009‑20), Ms Síle Murnaghan (2020‑present).
Applying to Monksland 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 Monksland 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 Monksland National School
How many pupils attend Monksland National School?
Monksland National School has 139 pupils enrolled, 70 girls and 69 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Monksland National School a DEIS school?
No. Monksland National School 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 Monksland National School?
Monksland National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.