St Mary's & St Gerard's National School
Enniskerry, Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 206 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 89 girls, 117 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17223O the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Mary’s & St Gerard’s National School, Enniskerry, operates under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and is a fully‑owned Catholic primary school. Its ethos is centred on the holistic development of each pupil, aiming to nurture intellectual, physical, social, personal, spiritual, moral and aesthetic growth. The school strives to achieve this within a climate of mutual respect and positive co‑operation, drawing on the support of the wider community – pupils, parents, staff, the Board of Management, the Department of Education and Skills and the Parents Association. A broad programme of extracurricular activities complements the curriculum, including after‑school clubs such as the Lego Club, Maths Week, the Green School Flag ceremony, the BLAST initiative, dance projects and community games. Regular events such as Grandparents’ Day, school‑wide activities and a well‑maintained school calendar foster strong family and community links. The school also provides clear guidance on uniform and offers a range of resources for parents, reinforcing a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
History
The school occupies the historic School House opposite Enniskerry’s Clock Tower, which was constructed in 1818 and originally served as the local Church of Ireland National School. The building remained in educational use for many decades, with the nearby ‘Ferndale’ house (c. 1850) providing accommodation for the schoolmaster. Over the years the school has been part of the village’s rich heritage, alongside landmarks such as Powerscourt House (1741), the Clock Tower (1843) and St Mary’s Catholic Church (1859). While the exact date of the present St Mary’s & St Gerard’s National School’s establishment is not specified, its roots lie in this long‑standing tradition of local education.
Applying to St Mary's & St Gerard'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
View St Mary's & St Gerard's National 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 Mary's & St Gerard's National 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 Mary's & St Gerard's National School
How many pupils attend St Mary's & St Gerard's National School?
St Mary's & St Gerard's National School has 206 pupils enrolled, 89 girls and 117 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Mary's & St Gerard's National School a DEIS school?
No. St Mary's & St Gerard'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 & St Gerard's National School?
St Mary's & St Gerard's National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.