St. Mary's National School
Sandyford, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 242 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 118 girls, 124 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 02872U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Mary’s Woodside National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in Lambs Cross, Sandyford, Dublin 18, under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin. While its ethos is rooted in the Catholic tradition, the school explicitly welcomes pupils and families of all faiths and cultural backgrounds, fostering an inclusive community. The educational philosophy is child‑centred, aiming to create a friendly, supportive atmosphere where each child can thrive academically, socially and spiritually. The campus combines historic charm with modern facilities. The iconic granite‑faced building with its green steeple, erected in 1936, is complemented by a two‑storey extension added in 2011 that provides new classrooms, a spacious entrance hall and upgraded learning spaces. A broad extra‑curricular programme enriches the curriculum, including a school choir that participates in national competitions, a strong tradition in athletics, and successful football and soccer teams that have competed at provincial and national levels. These activities, together with dedicated spaces for clubs such as Lego and a vibrant student council, support a well‑rounded education for the school’s growing enrolment.
History
The original school on the site was built in 1841 on the former country hospital grounds. In 1936 the present granite‑faced building with its distinctive green steeple replaced the earlier structure. As the Sandyford/Stepaside area developed, pupil numbers expanded, prompting the addition of a two‑storey modern extension with a new entrance and hallway in 2011. St. Mary’s Woodside is the oldest Catholic school in Sandyford Parish and has continually embraced a child‑centred approach, maintaining its friendly ethos despite a three‑fold increase in enrolment over the past decade.
Applying to St. Mary's 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. Mary's 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. Mary's National School
How many pupils attend St. Mary's National School?
St. Mary's National School has 242 pupils enrolled, 118 girls and 124 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Mary's National School a DEIS school?
No. St. Mary's 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. Mary's National School?
St. Mary's National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by JP. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 2.0.