Our Ladys Meadow National School
Laois
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 192 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 89 girls, 103 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20065Q the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Our Ladys Meadow National School is a Catholic co‑educational primary school situated in Durrow, operating under the patronage of the Bishop of Ossory and the governance of an eight‑member Board of Management. The school follows the guidelines of the Department of Education and Science and is committed to best practice in teaching and learning. It celebrates the individuality of each pupil, nurturing intellectual, social and emotional development so that every child can reach their full potential. The school’s facilities have developed from the original six‑classroom building, which also housed a general‑purpose room, office, staff room and kitchenette, to include an additional classroom, two extra offices and dedicated Learning Support rooms. With a current enrolment of 95 boys and 94 girls, the school provides a balanced, inclusive environment where pupils benefit from a strong Catholic ethos, a supportive community and a focus on holistic education.
History
In 1983 a new primary school was constructed on the left of Castle Avenue and named Our Ladys Meadow PS, succeeding the Convent Primary School in Castle Durrow. Designed by John Stewart MRIAI, the original premises comprised six classrooms, a GP room, office, staff room and kitchenette. The school was initially run by the Presentation Sisters, catering for boys and girls up to First class and girls to Sixth class, while a separate boys’ school on Kilkenny Road served Second to Sixth class. The first lay principal was appointed in 1992 and the last Presentation Sister left in 1994, after which trusteeship passed to the Bishop of Ossory. In 1997 the Kilkenny Road boys’ school amalgamated with Our Ladys Meadow, creating a single co‑educational primary school. Subsequent growth led to the addition of an extra classroom, two offices and Learning Support rooms. Current enrolment stands at 95 boys and 94 girls.
Applying to Our Ladys Meadow 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 Ladys Meadow 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 Ladys Meadow National School
How many pupils attend Our Ladys Meadow National School?
Our Ladys Meadow National School has 192 pupils enrolled, 89 girls and 103 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Our Ladys Meadow National School a DEIS school?
No. Our Ladys Meadow 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 Our Ladys Meadow National School?
Our Ladys Meadow National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by GunnerPoulsen~commonswiki. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 3.0.