St Luke's National School Douglas
Douglas, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 203 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 110 girls, 93 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 12012W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Luke’s National School, Douglas is a co‑educational primary school under the patronage of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. The school provides a safe, nurturing environment where every pupil is valued as an individual and encouraged to reach their full academic and personal potential. A strong emphasis is placed on high expectations for achievement, behaviour and personal development, supported by a dedicated team that includes class teachers, learning‑support staff and specialist assistants. Beyond the classroom, pupils enjoy a broad range of extra‑curricular activities such as choir, hockey, soccer, swimming, chess, athletics, tag rugby, drama and visual art. They are actively involved in school life through roles as Buddies, Squaddies, members of the Green School committee and the Student Council, fostering a sense of community, responsibility and environmental stewardship. The school’s facilities accommodate these programmes, offering spaces for sport, creative arts and collaborative learning, and benefit from a close partnership with the local parish and wider community.
History
A school has stood beside the Church of Ireland in Douglas since the 1820s, with possible origins as early as 1785. Initially funded by the Kildare Place Society, it later transferred to the Church Education Society before joining the national system in 1880. In 1880 Samuel Baker became teacher and the school moved into a hall funded by William E. Penrose, a building that served until 1980. The school survived a threatened closure in 1916, thanks to advocacy from its patron and the rector. Expansion occurred in 1953 with a new classroom opened by Bishop G. O. Simms, and again in 1969 when pupils from the closed Glenbrook National School transferred, raising enrolment above 100. By the mid‑1970s the original premises were replaced with a new building following a community‑led fundraising effort.
Applying to St Luke's National School Douglas
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 Luke's National School Douglas. 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 Luke's National School Douglas
How many pupils attend St Luke's National School Douglas?
St Luke's National School Douglas has 203 pupils enrolled, 110 girls and 93 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Luke's National School Douglas a DEIS school?
No. St Luke's National School Douglas 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 Luke's National School Douglas?
St Luke's National School Douglas has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.