St. Cronan's Junior National School
Swords, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 498 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 226 girls, 272 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19456B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Cronan’s Junior National School is a co‑educational Catholic primary school situated in the Brackenstown area of Swords, County Dublin. It welcomes children aged four to eight, providing education from Junior Infants through to Second Class. The school’s ethos centres on nurturing each child’s potential within a caring, faith‑based environment, emphasising a love of learning, strong foundational skills and the development of social and emotional wellbeing. The campus comprises a purpose‑built building originally opened in 1974 and expanded in 2004 to accommodate a growing local population. Facilities include a range of modern classrooms, dedicated spaces for special educational needs, and areas for creative and physical activity. Two Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) classes support twelve pupils, reflecting the school’s commitment to inclusive education. With a staff complement of over thirty teachers and support personnel, the school offers a well‑resourced setting for both mainstream and specialised learning programmes. St. Cronan’s actively engages families and the wider community through a variety of programmes, events and communication channels, fostering a vibrant school life that extends beyond the classroom. The school’s mission, developed in consultation with parents, teachers and the board of management, underpins its vision of academic excellence, spiritual growth and community involvement.
History
St. Cronan’s Junior National School was founded in 1972 to serve the emerging Brackenstown community in Swords. Initially operating from temporary premises on North Street beside the Carnegie Library with a three‑class structure, the school expanded to a fourth class in 1973 and utilised space in the old Boro school building. On 7 October 1974 a purpose‑built facility on Brackenstown Road opened, though early conditions were modest, lacking a yard, staff rooms and telephone service. By the following Easter the original 16‑room building was completed. In 1984 a new principal oversaw a period of rapid growth, leading to a seven‑year campaign that resulted in a major extension completed in 2004. The school introduced its first ASD class in 2007, now operating two such classes for twelve children. Today the school educates 519 pupils, supported by 33 teaching staff, a special educational team of 12, 14 Special Needs Assistants and additional support personnel. St. Cronan’s operates under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin and maintains a Catholic ethos that guides its mission, aims and vision.
Applying to St. Cronan's Junior 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. Cronan's Junior 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. Cronan's Junior National School
How many pupils attend St. Cronan's Junior National School?
St. Cronan's Junior National School has 498 pupils enrolled, 226 girls and 272 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Cronan's Junior National School a DEIS school?
No. St. Cronan's Junior 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. Cronan's Junior National School?
St. Cronan's Junior National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.