Our Lady Of Good Counsel National School
Drimnagh, Dublin
Key facts
- DEIS
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 136 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 123 girls, 13 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17355I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Our Lady of Good Counsel Girls’ National School is a vibrant primary school situated on Knocknarea Road in Drimnagh, Dublin. The school provides a caring, values‑led environment for girls from junior infants to sixth class, organised into a range of class groups such as St Therese 1‑4, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th classes. Daily life is guided by the “Golden Rules” – being gentle, kind, helpful, honest, hardworking and respectful of property – and reinforced by clear school rules that promote good manners, punctuality, uniform standards and a safe, quiet corridor culture. The curriculum is underpinned by a strong emphasis on personal development alongside academic achievement, encouraging pupils to listen, cooperate and strive for their best. Although the original complex was built in the 1940s as one of the largest and most modern school sites in Europe, the school continues to benefit from spacious, well‑maintained facilities that support a broad range of learning activities and extracurricular events, such as the recent Grandparents’ Day celebration and class‑wide attendance drives.
History
The parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel on Mourne Road was established on 9 April 1943. The Sisters of Mercy arrived on 3 January 1944 to manage and teach in both the Infants’ and Girls’ schools, while a Boys’ National School opened concurrently. Despite wartime shortages, the three‑school complex was completed ahead of schedule and officially opened by Minister of Education Thomas Derrig on 10 January 1944. At the time it was one of the largest primary school sites in Europe, housing over 3,800 pupils across 44 classrooms and 76 rooms. In 1956 the Sisters of Mercy expanded the Girls’ school to provide post‑primary (secondary) education for girls.
Applying to Our Lady Of Good Counsel 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 Our Lady Of Good Counsel 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 Our Lady Of Good Counsel National School
How many pupils attend Our Lady Of Good Counsel National School?
Our Lady Of Good Counsel National School has 136 pupils enrolled, 123 girls and 13 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Our Lady Of Good Counsel National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Our Lady Of Good Counsel 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 Our Lady Of Good Counsel National School?
Our Lady Of Good Counsel National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' primary school.