St Colmcille's Boys National School
Swords, Dublin
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 320 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18976W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Colmcille’s Boys’ National School is a Catholic primary school for boys situated on Chapel Lane in Swords, County Dublin. Under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin, the school follows a Catholic ethos that seeks the full and harmonious development of each pupil – intellectually, physically, culturally, morally and spiritually. The curriculum is delivered in line with the Irish primary curriculum and is enriched by a strong emphasis on religious education, Gaelic language, music, sport and the arts, fostering a well‑rounded education that prepares children for lifelong learning. The school benefits from a range of facilities that support its holistic approach, including a dedicated school garden, a modern playground, and access to before‑ and after‑school care through the Sherpa Kids programme. Extra‑curricular provision is extensive, with clubs and activities covering athletics, football, multicultural projects, and creative arts such as painting and sculpture. The school’s website has been recognised as a “Scoilnet Star Site”, reflecting its commitment to effective communication with families and the wider community.
History
The school was established in 1966, when the Department of Education closed St Patrick's school at Cloghraun and merged it into two new schools on Chapel Lane, St Colmcille's BNS and St Colmcille's GNS. Boys in Swords had been taught at schools on Seatown Road and at Cloghraun, with some classes held at the Old Borough School on Main Street between 1961 and 1966. The Chapel Lane building was ready for occupation in May 1966, though St Colmcille's BNS did not formally come into existence until 1 July 1966, with 311 pupils on its first roll. The Secretary of the Department of Education, Traolach O' Raifeartaigh, performed the official opening on 14 February 1967, and the buildings were blessed by the then Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev. Dr Mc Quaid. Pre-fabs were added in 1968 and 1971 as Swords grew, and the Girls' School reopened on North Street in 1972. A Computer Room opened in 1998, a Resource Room was built in 2003, and a new Resource Building opened in November 2013.
Applying to St Colmcille's Boys 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Colmcille's Boys National School. 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 St Colmcille's Boys National School
How many pupils attend St Colmcille's Boys National School?
St Colmcille's Boys National School has 320 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Colmcille's Boys National School a DEIS school?
No. St Colmcille's Boys 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's Boys National School?
St Colmcille's Boys National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by VinDel24. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 4.0.