Scoil Bhride National School
Portlaoise, Laois
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 727 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 384 girls, 343 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19747M the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Bhríde is a mixed, DEIS Band 1 national school situated in Portlaoise, serving a vibrant community of approximately 737 pupils. The school adopts a holistic approach to education, addressing academic, emotional, physical and psychological needs, and strives to enable every child to reach their full potential. A strong emphasis is placed on inclusive learning, with a range of initiatives that support literacy, numeracy and personal development, reinforced by regular whole‑school evaluation and a comprehensive set of policies. The school benefits from a modern learning environment and is preparing for a new purpose‑built building, reflecting its commitment to providing up‑to‑date facilities. Scoil Bhríde celebrates achievement through a variety of awards programmes, including Green School and Active School recognitions, and actively participates in DEIS initiatives that promote equity and inclusion across the curriculum. Parents and the wider community are encouraged to engage through a dedicated home‑school liaison service, fostering strong partnerships that support student wellbeing and success.
History
The school is currently undertaking a School History Project to commemorate its development to date, coinciding with the forthcoming construction of a new school building. The project, titled “The 2014 Living History School Project,” is available via a dedicated link and serves to celebrate the school’s heritage and community spirit.
Applying to Scoil Bhride 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 Scoil Bhride 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 Scoil Bhride National School
How many pupils attend Scoil Bhride National School?
Scoil Bhride National School has 727 pupils enrolled, 384 girls and 343 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Bhride National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Scoil Bhride National School is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Scoil Bhride National School?
Scoil Bhride National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.