Scoil Náisiúnta Nioclais Naofa
Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 250 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 116 girls, 134 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17810G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Scoil Nioclais Naofa is a mixed vertical primary school in Dunlavin, West Wicklow, close to the Kildare border. It is a Catholic school under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. The school has 11 classrooms, special education rooms, a general purpose room, a library, offices, basketball courts, an astroturf pitch and football pitches. A building called Solas houses the class for children on the autistic spectrum. Enrolment is 243 children, with a teaching staff of 15, 7 special needs assistants and 2 clerical staff. The school prepares pupils for First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation according to diocesan arrangements. The school states its aim as promoting the full and harmonious development of pupils in their relationship with God, other people and the environment.
History
The present school building was constructed in 1952. Before that, the school was located in the church grounds, with two rooms divided by curtains, one for boys and one for girls. In 1952 pupils moved to the current building but remained separated by gender. A Mr P. Kavanagh became principal, and Tom O'Neill later became principal in the 1960s when the boys' and girls' schools amalgamated. Merginstown National School closed, adding to pupil numbers. In the late 1970s and 1980s, the junior and sixth class rooms and the hall were added. A six-classroom extension was built at the rear of the school in 2006.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Nioclais Naofa
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 Nioclais Naofa. 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 Nioclais Naofa
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Nioclais Naofa?
Scoil Náisiúnta Nioclais Naofa has 250 pupils enrolled, 116 girls and 134 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Nioclais Naofa a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Nioclais Naofa 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 Nioclais Naofa?
Scoil Náisiúnta Nioclais Naofa has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.