St Colmcille Senior National School
Knocklyon, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 744 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 355 girls, 389 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19742C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Colmcille’s Senior National School is a Catholic parish school in Knocklyon that combines a strong academic programme with a restorative approach to community life. The school’s ethos is built on the values of truth, justice and compassion, and it seeks to nurture curiosity, confidence and a lifelong joy of learning. Relationships between pupils, families and staff are prioritised, with restorative practice used to resolve conflict constructively and to develop empathy and personal responsibility. The campus has evolved from its original 16‑classroom building (completed in 1976) to a modern complex that was redeveloped between 2011 and 2015, providing contemporary classrooms, specialist spaces and temporary facilities that support a pupil population of over 1 400. The school celebrates Irish culture while respecting the richness of other traditions, and it promotes high expectations, inclusive teaching that recognises diverse learning styles, and a safe, supportive environment where every child can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
History
In the mid‑1970s a seven‑acre site on Idrone Avenue was purchased for £36,000 and, after a delay in grant approval, construction began under architect John Carroll. The 16‑classroom school was completed in July 1976, welcomed its first pupils in September 1976 and was officially opened on 31 March 1977 by Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, with Archbishop Dermot Ryan blessing the building. The inaugural roll was 47 pupils, rising to 54 by opening day. A second building was added in 1982, creating separate Junior and Senior schools. By the late 2010s the school had grown to over 1 400 pupils and a staff of more than 70. A major redevelopment started in late 2011, and after a temporary relocation the new facilities reopened on Idrone Avenue in September 2014, with an official opening on 25 September 2015.
Applying to St Colmcille Senior 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
View St Colmcille Senior National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Colmcille Senior National School. 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 St Colmcille Senior National School
How many pupils attend St Colmcille Senior National School?
St Colmcille Senior National School has 744 pupils enrolled, 355 girls and 389 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Colmcille Senior National School a DEIS school?
No. St Colmcille Senior National School 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 St Colmcille Senior National School?
St Colmcille Senior National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.