Scoil Bhríde
Kildare
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 183 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 97 girls, 86 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16345A the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Scoil Bhríde is a rural country school situated in the village of Nurney, County Kildare, just a short drive from the Kildare Outlet Village. The school operates a single class for each level from Junior Infants to 6th class, providing a close‑knit community where every pupil is known and supported. The learning environment is centred on a modern, purpose‑built facility opened in 2011, offering spacious, bright classrooms equipped with up‑to‑date ICT resources and specialised learning support rooms. The campus is set on extensive grounds that include a full‑size sports hall, an astro‑turf pitch, a full‑size football field, a basketball court, two all‑weather play yards, two biodiversity gardens, a large outdoor classroom and a sensory‑wellbeing garden under development. These facilities enable a broad curriculum that embraces sport, music, art, science, entrepreneurship and environmental education, while the school’s ethos promotes inclusion, tolerance and partnership with parents to foster confident, independent learners.
History
Education has been present in the Nurney area since the early 1800s. The original national school opened on the current site in February 1853, housed in a single room with a central fireplace and staffed by two teachers. A new school building was erected in May 1915, featuring a high wall that divided the playground for boys and girls. In 1964 the school was extended with a third classroom, additional bathrooms and separate cloakrooms. The present modern building was completed shortly after 2010 (opened 2011), providing bright, well‑equipped rooms, a large sports hall, learning support rooms, a library, computer suite, school shop, staff room and offices. Further enhancements in 2021‑2022 added two all‑weather play yards and a developing sensory and wellbeing garden.
Applying to Scoil Bhríde
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 Bhríde's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Scoil Bhríde. 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 Bhríde
How many pupils attend Scoil Bhríde?
Scoil Bhríde has 183 pupils enrolled, 97 girls and 86 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Bhríde a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Bhríde 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 Bhríde?
Scoil Bhríde has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.