St. Joseph's C.B.S
Drogheda, Louth
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 359 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 118 girls, 241 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17059E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
A co-educational Catholic primary school at Sunday's Gate in Drogheda, Co. Louth, St Joseph's CBS has 359 pupils and DEIS status. The patrons are the Archdiocese of Armagh together with the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, and the school identifies its characteristic spirit with the Edmund Rice Schools' Charter. Children of all faiths and of none are enrolled. Classes run from junior infants to sixth class, and there is also an autism class. Admissions follow a common application and enrolment policy used by the primary schools of St Peter's Parish, and waiting lists operate at several class levels. After-school activities, including GAA training, have been provided by teaching staff, and pupils take part in sport, music, art, drama and play. The school was named a School of Sanctuary in March 2025. Building work has included reconfiguring toilets at fourth and fifth class level to serve both boys and girls, and storage funded by the parents' association that freed up rooms for special education teaching. The mission statement names the family as the primary educator of the child.
Applying to St. Joseph's C.B.S
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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
View St. Joseph's C.B.S' own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St. Joseph's C.B.S. 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. Joseph's C.B.S
How many pupils attend St. Joseph's C.B.S?
St. Joseph's C.B.S has 359 pupils enrolled, 118 girls and 241 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Joseph's C.B.S a DEIS school?
Yes. St. Joseph's C.B.S is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of St. Joseph's C.B.S?
St. Joseph's C.B.S has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.