Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh Naofa
ENNISCORTY, Wexford
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 227 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 116 girls, 111 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17800D the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Joseph’s National School (SN Seosamh Naofa) is a co‑educational, mainstream primary school serving the village of Bree in County Wexford. The school provides a caring, safe and inclusive environment for children to develop their full potential, placing equal emphasis on academic achievement, personal wellbeing and social resilience. A strong Catholic ethos underpins the curriculum, promoting the holistic development of pupils – intellectually, physically, culturally, morally and spiritually – and delivering religious education in line with Roman Catholic tradition. The school benefits from modern infrastructure, including high‑speed broadband supplied through the Department of Education’s School Broadband Programme and a 2021 grant aimed at narrowing the digital divide for learners facing disadvantage. Over the years the campus has been expanded with several classroom extensions, creating a range of learning spaces that support small‑class teaching and collaborative activities. Dedicated staff work closely with the Board of Management, Parents Council and the wider community to foster a vibrant, well‑rounded educational experience for all pupils.
History
Education in the Bree area began with informal hedge schools before the establishment of the Department of Education in the mid‑1830s. Early Church of Ireland schools operated in nearby villages, and a local hedge school run by Mrs Foley served young children. Bree’s first formal school opened in the old church on Bree Lane, comprising two rooms separated by a partition, with James Kirwan as its inaugural teacher. A new purpose‑built school was erected in 1953 to accommodate a growing pupil body, and subsequent extensions in 1991, 2014 and 2016 added further classrooms and a principal’s office, expanding the school to its current size.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh Naofa. 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 Seosamh Naofa
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh Naofa?
Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh Naofa has 227 pupils enrolled, 116 girls and 111 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh Naofa a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh 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 Seosamh Naofa?
Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh Naofa has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.