St Joseph's Mercy Primary School
Navan, Meath
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 385 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 188 girls, 197 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16100Q the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Joseph’s Mercy Primary School is a mixed, Catholic primary school situated in the heart of Navan, County Meath. Operating under the patronage of the Bishop of Meath and the trusteeship of the Mercy Sisters (Northern Province), the school embraces a faith‑based ethos that underpins its curriculum and community life. With a current enrolment of 464 pupils, the school offers a nurturing environment that balances academic rigour with spiritual and personal development, encouraging children to grow in confidence, compassion and a love of learning. The school benefits from a central location close to the Solstice Arts Centre, Navan Library and St Mary’s Church, and can be accessed via Leighsbrook or the pedestrian‑only Brews Hill route. Its timetable runs from 9:15 am to 3:00 pm, with a mid‑morning break and a half‑hour lunch period. Recent initiatives such as the Teacher Artist Partnership Programme (TAP+) and a focus on nature‑based learning illustrate the school’s commitment to creative, experiential education that extends beyond the classroom.
History
The Mercy Sisters, whose order was founded by Mother Catherine McAuley in Dublin in 1831, came to Navan in 1853. They initially gave needlework lessons from a house on Bakery Lane, off Trimgate Street, before relocating to Leighsbrook in 1857 to teach reading, writing and arithmetic. The present school building was built in 1910 on a site donated by the convent, and it underwent a major reconstruction and extension in 1966.
Applying to St Joseph's Mercy Primary 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.
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 Mercy Primary 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 Joseph's Mercy Primary 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 Joseph's Mercy Primary School
How many pupils attend St Joseph's Mercy Primary School?
St Joseph's Mercy Primary School has 385 pupils enrolled, 188 girls and 197 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Joseph's Mercy Primary School a DEIS school?
Yes. St Joseph's Mercy Primary School 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 Mercy Primary School?
St Joseph's Mercy Primary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.