St Oliver Plunket National School
Blackrock, Louth
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 503 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 248 girls, 255 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15285D the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Oliver Plunkett National School is a co‑educational, Catholic primary school that aims to provide a well‑ordered, caring, happy and secure environment for its pupils. The school adopts a holistic educational approach, seeking to meet the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of each child and to encourage them to reach their full potential. While the ethos is Catholic, the school recognises and respects all other religions and promotes inclusive values throughout the curriculum and community life. The school benefits from a purpose‑built eight‑classroom, two‑storey extension added in the mid‑1970s, providing modern learning spaces for the junior and senior classes. A strong emphasis is placed on parental involvement through the Parents’ Association and regular home‑school communication. Extra‑curricular highlights include participation in the FAI Schools Primary 5s programme, celebration of Seachtain na Gaeilge, and a Creative Schools Wellbeing Week that fosters creativity, wellbeing and community spirit among pupils.
History
St. Oliver Plunkett National School opened its doors to its first pupils on 8 January 1899, originally operating as separate Boys and Girls National Schools in two rooms. In 1970 the two schools were amalgamated, and in 1976 an eight‑classroom, two‑storey extension was constructed. The extension was blessed and officially opened by Archbishop Tómas O’Fiaich on 15 April 1978. By 1976 the roll was 386 pupils; the highest enrolment recorded was 468 pupils in June 1988, with 445 pupils on roll in June 2019. The school currently employs a team of teachers, SNAs, a full‑time secretary and caretaker.
Applying to St Oliver Plunket 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 Oliver Plunket 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 Oliver Plunket National School
How many pupils attend St Oliver Plunket National School?
St Oliver Plunket National School has 503 pupils enrolled, 248 girls and 255 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Oliver Plunket National School a DEIS school?
No. St Oliver Plunket 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 Oliver Plunket National School?
St Oliver Plunket National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.