St Oliver Plunkett
Malahide, Dublin
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 838 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 401 girls, 437 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17914S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Oliver Plunkett is a Catholic primary school that delivers the Irish National Primary School Curriculum within a child‑centred, inclusive framework. The school’s ethos promotes an atmosphere of love, respect, security and trust, encouraging pupils to develop moral qualities such as patience, perseverance and fair play. Its vision stresses the right of every child to equal access to opportunities, fostering responsibility, adaptability and a positive sense of self‑worth in a happy, caring environment. The school’s aims encompass the intellectual, physical, social, personal, spiritual, moral and aesthetic development of each learner, with a strong emphasis on cooperative spirit and independent work habits. The school benefits from a newly‑completed building and a €12 000 grant from Dublin Airport that has created a Natural Learning Space for the infant classes, enabling outdoor mud, water and nature play. A broad range of after‑school activities, reading classes, music provision and specialist support for children with additional needs reinforce its inclusive ethos. The premises also serve the wider Malahide community, hosting a music school, Irish‑dancing classes and the Fingal Reading Workshop, reinforcing the school’s role as a vibrant local hub.
History
St Oliver Plunkett is a National School founded by the local parish over 150 years ago and funded by the state. It has evolved from a modest village‑style school into a community‑focused institution that offers high‑quality primary education while acting as a centre for social, sporting, musical and religious activities. The school’s inclusive, child‑centred approach is reflected in its anti‑bullying, Green Schools and community‑engagement programmes, and it continues to expand its facilities, including a new building that will further support its role as a community asset.
Applying to St Oliver Plunkett
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 Oliver Plunkett's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Oliver Plunkett. 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 Oliver Plunkett
How many pupils attend St Oliver Plunkett?
St Oliver Plunkett has 838 pupils enrolled, 401 girls and 437 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Oliver Plunkett a DEIS school?
No. St Oliver Plunkett 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 Plunkett?
St Oliver Plunkett has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.