Scoil Naomh Barra
Navan, Meath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 238 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 112 girls, 126 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19253K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Naomh Barra is a co‑educational Roman Catholic primary school serving the Wilkinstown community, catering for children from Junior Infants through to 6th Class. The school operates a vertical model, allowing pupils to progress through a single‑stream system of 20‑25 students per class within a supportive, inclusive environment. Recent extensive renovations have provided modern, high‑specification learning spaces, including interactive Promethean whiteboards in every classroom and a one‑to‑one provision of iPads and Chromebooks to enhance digital literacy. The school boasts a comprehensive range of facilities that promote both academic and physical development. These include a modern school hall, two basketball courts, an astro‑turf pitch, a central activity zone, a football pitch, and a well‑equipped playground featuring swings, a slide, a zip line and a trampoline. Additional resources comprise a sensory room, free hot meals, libraries in each classroom with annually refreshed collections, and dedicated spaces for music and library activities. A strong emphasis on sport is reflected in the variety of teams offered, such as Gaelic football, hurling, soccer, basketball, rounders and athletics, supported by newly purchased PE, maths and science equipment.
History
Scoil Naomh Barra opened on 20 September 1971 following the amalgamation of Kilberry and Wilkinstown National Schools. Situated 6 km from Navan on the Navan‑to‑Kingscourt Road, the school was named after Saint Barra, who had a historic Cill (little church) in Kilberry. The inaugural principal was Mr Tom Sherlock, assisted by Mrs Marie Duffy and Antoinette Stack. Michael Forry succeeded as principal and served for twenty‑nine years. The current principal, appointed in 2014, continues the tradition of Catholic education under the patronage of Bishop Dr Thomas Deenihan.
Applying to Scoil Naomh Barra
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 Naomh Barra's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Scoil Naomh Barra. 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 Naomh Barra
How many pupils attend Scoil Naomh Barra?
Scoil Naomh Barra has 238 pupils enrolled, 112 girls and 126 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Naomh Barra a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Naomh Barra 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 Naomh Barra?
Scoil Naomh Barra has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.