St Joseph's National School, Dromore
Bantry, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 68 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 32 girls, 36 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13095L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Joseph’s National School, Dromore is a small rural primary school located near the village of Drimoleague, between Skibbereen and Bantry in West Cork. The school caters for 68 pupils and provides a balanced mix of classroom‑based learning and outdoor experiences. Teaching provision includes four classroom teachers, a special‑educational‑needs (SEN) teacher, a cluster teacher and dedicated support assistants, ensuring that the needs of all learners are met within a supportive community ethos. The campus comprises three spacious general classrooms, two specialised SEN classrooms, a kitchen, a staff‑room/multi‑purpose area and an office. The well‑maintained grounds feature a large pitch, a basketball court, grass and tarmac play zones, raised vegetable beds and a wildlife garden that promote biodiversity and hands‑on learning. A junior playground marked with games, together with a wide range of PE equipment and playground toys, provides safe, attractive spaces for physical activity and outdoor education. The school day runs from 9:20 am to 2:00 pm for infant classes and to 3:00 pm for the remaining classes. Beyond the core curriculum, St Joseph’s encourages participation in a variety of extra‑curricular activities, including West Cork Debating, the National Children’s Choir, Sciath na Scol, rugby, hurling, swimming, aquathlon, chess tournaments and the Port of Cork competition. This broad programme aims to develop confidence, teamwork and personal growth, reinforcing the school’s commitment to an inclusive, dynamic learning environment.
Applying to St Joseph's National School, Dromore
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 Joseph's National School, Dromore. 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 Joseph's National School, Dromore
How many pupils attend St Joseph's National School, Dromore?
St Joseph's National School, Dromore has 68 pupils enrolled, 32 girls and 36 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Joseph's National School, Dromore a DEIS school?
No. St Joseph's National School, Dromore 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 Joseph's National School, Dromore?
St Joseph's National School, Dromore has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.