Scoil Náisiúnta Rath Dubh
Grenagh, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 197 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 78 girls, 119 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 08393P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Náisiúnta Ráth Dubh, also known as Rathduff National School, is a co-educational primary school located off the Mallow Road, roughly 17km from Cork City. It operates under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Cloyne and serves pupils from Rathduff, Grenagh and the surrounding areas. Current enrolment is 305 pupils, supported by a staff of 21 teachers and 9 special needs assistants. The school has grown substantially in recent years and this growth is expected to continue. Recent additions include several classrooms and a sports hall, and funding has been approved for a further extension with 2 classrooms and a full ASD unit. The school holds its 4th Green Flag and first Active Flag, and has received awards for Science and Maths Excellence and as a Digital School of Distinction. Pupils from 3rd to 6th class take part in annual swimming lessons, gymnastics is provided for all classes, and speech and drama lessons are held weekly. The school participates in Sciath na Scol competitions and has won both boys and girls titles in recent years. After-school music lessons and French classes are organised by the Parents Association.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Rath Dubh
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 Rath Dubh. 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 Rath Dubh
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Rath Dubh?
Scoil Náisiúnta Rath Dubh has 197 pupils enrolled, 78 girls and 119 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Rath Dubh a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Rath Dubh 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 Rath Dubh?
Scoil Náisiúnta Rath Dubh has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.