St Malachys Girls National School
Dundalk, Louth
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 233 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15259C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Malachy’s Girls’ National School is an all‑girls, Catholic primary school situated on Anne Street in Dundalk, County Louth. The school operates under the care of the Dominican Order, a relationship that has continued since its foundation in 1833, making it the first national school established in Dundalk. Today the school educates 234 pupils, drawing from a wide range of social backgrounds and embracing children from many cultures and nationalities. The school’s ethos centres on providing a secure, nurturing learning environment where the holistic development of each child is paramount. A strong emphasis is placed on both academic achievement and personal growth, with programmes that support digital literacy, science exploration and community involvement. Recent initiatives include a grant awarded in 2021 to bridge the digital divide and the provision of high‑speed broadband connectivity through the Department of Education’s NextGeneration EU programme, ensuring that pupils have access to modern learning resources. St. Malachy’s aims to foster a sense of belonging and confidence in its students, encouraging them to become active, compassionate members of society while maintaining a vibrant Catholic identity.
Applying to St Malachys Girls 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 Malachys Girls 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 Malachys Girls National School
How many pupils attend St Malachys Girls National School?
St Malachys Girls National School has 233 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Malachys Girls National School a DEIS school?
No. St Malachys Girls 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 Malachys Girls National School?
St Malachys Girls National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by Eric Jones. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 2.0.