Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa
Cork
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 215 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16339F the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Joseph’s National School, Mardyke, is an all‑boys primary school situated in the Sacred Heart parish of Cork. As a Presentation school, it follows the tradition established by Edmund Rice in 1802 to provide a caring, faith‑based education for Catholic children. The school’s vision is to create a safe, happy environment that promotes honesty, courtesy, responsibility, tolerance and consideration for others. A challenging curriculum encourages each pupil to develop academic skills and reach their full potential, while a broad co‑curricular programme supports sport, drama, music, the arts and a range of hobbies, fostering well‑rounded personal development. The school places great emphasis on partnership with families and the wider community, recognising parents and guardians as vital contributors to pupil welfare and school life. Facilities include dedicated classroom spaces, a playground, and access to after‑school provision such as Sherpa Kids childcare. The ethos is one of inclusivity and celebration of achievement, ensuring every child feels welcomed, supported and equal within the learning community.
History
St Joseph’s School traces its origins to the Lancasterian School, the predecessor that served Cork’s Middle Parish. The school historically catered to the densely populated “Marsh” area, with a catchment extending from the North Gate to the South Gate bridges. Significant changes occurred following the 1920s slum‑clearance programmes, which shifted the pupil base towards the western suburbs. The present site, once part of the 18th‑ and 19th‑century “Rough Marshes”, was conveyed in 1848 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to William Horatio Crawford and later to the Beamish and Crawford firm. The school has occupied its current location since 1913 and looked forward to its centenary in 2013.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa
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
View Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa?
Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa has 215 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa 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 Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa?
Scoil Náisiúnta Iosef Naofa has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' primary school.