Scoil Mhuire
Ashbourne, Meath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 479 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 241 girls, 238 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19768U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Scoil Mhuire is a state‑funded, co‑educational Catholic primary school serving the town of Ashbourne and its surrounding areas. The school caters for children from Junior Infants through to Sixth Class, with just under 500 pupils enrolled across 18 mainstream classes. Instruction is delivered in English while the school maintains a strong commitment to the Irish language and the promotion of Irish cultural and sporting traditions. The campus is a modern, purpose‑built facility that includes a two‑storey, six‑classroom block with dedicated resource rooms and a lift, providing accessible learning spaces. Outdoor provision is extensive, featuring generous playing fields and a developing sensory garden project in partnership with the local community, designed to support the emotional and sensory needs of all pupils. In addition to the national curriculum, Scoil Mhuire offers a broad range of extra‑curricular activities, fostering a well‑rounded education that encourages resilience, creativity and community involvement.
History
Scoil Mhuire was founded in 1981 in response to a rapidly growing population in Ashbourne, initially operating from the old school buildings on the church grounds before moving to prefabricated classrooms alongside St Declan’s National School. In 1986 the school relocated to its current site following the construction of a new building. Further development occurred in 2012 with the addition of a two‑storey, six‑classroom block equipped with resource rooms and a lift. The school celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022 with a series of events including a commemorative mass, archive week, special assemblies and an open evening.
Applying to Scoil Mhuire
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 Mhuire. 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 Mhuire
How many pupils attend Scoil Mhuire?
Scoil Mhuire has 479 pupils enrolled, 241 girls and 238 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Mhuire a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Mhuire 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 Mhuire?
Scoil Mhuire has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.