Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Mochta
Clonsilla, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 805 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 386 girls, 419 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18778S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Mochta’s National School is a large co‑educational Catholic primary school situated on Porterstown Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. The school’s ethos is built around the motto “Everyone has opportunities to succeed. Everyone is treated with respect”, and it places a strong emphasis on the social, emotional and holistic development of pupils. Learning is at the centre of school life, with a curriculum that balances academic subjects such as maths, science and languages with music, art, sport and religious education, all delivered within an inclusive environment where every child is welcomed and treated equally. The campus features a state‑of‑the‑art building completed in 2019, incorporating the historic “White School” as the administrative hub. Facilities include bright, colour‑rich classrooms, a well‑stocked library, a servery, a multipurpose hall and four outdoor ball courts. Recent European Union funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan has equipped the school with laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, visualisers and robotics sets, supported by dedicated trolleys for easy movement. A newly planted willow tree outside the pupil entrance reflects the school’s crest and reinforces its connection to the local community and natural environment. Active parental involvement is encouraged through a vibrant Parents’ Association and a range of after‑school activities and child‑care provision.
History
The original school building, a distinctive three‑storey structure on the banks of the Royal Canal, opened on 16 January 1854. In 1963 it was replaced by a three‑classroom Boyd Barrett building fronting Clonsilla Road, locally known as “The White School”. A further move in 1986 saw the construction of an eight‑classroom school, which expanded to sixteen classrooms by 2000 and eventually to a 32‑classroom facility with prefabricated structures to meet the growing population of Dublin 15. Between 2017 and 2019 a new state‑of‑the‑art building was erected, integrating the original White School as the administrative area and adding modern classrooms, IT resources, a library, a hall and outdoor sports courts.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Mochta
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 Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Mochta. 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 Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Mochta
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Mochta?
Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Mochta has 805 pupils enrolled, 386 girls and 419 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Mochta a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Mochta 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 Naomh Mochta?
Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Mochta has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.