St Olivers National School
Carlingford, Louth
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 120 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 59 girls, 61 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 02322I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Oliver’s National School is a Catholic primary school situated in the heart of Carlingford, County Louth. The school provides a well‑ordered, caring and secure environment for children from junior infants to sixth class (8.50 am‑2.30 pm). While rooted in a Roman Catholic ethos, the school recognises and respects all other religions, fostering an inclusive community where every pupil feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. The educational approach is centred on a balanced curriculum that follows the Primary School Curriculum, integrating intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural development. St. Oliver’s is a Reading Recovery and KiVa school, emphasising early literacy intervention and anti‑bullying programmes. Core values such as respect, empathy, resilience, gender equity and self‑esteem are woven into daily learning, with a strong focus on enquiry, confidence‑building, teamwork, leadership and the appreciation of non‑material aspects of life. Facilities and resources support a well‑rounded education, including dedicated spaces for creative activities, science and maths projects, and a range of extracurricular initiatives such as the “Projects & ASPIRE Peace Plus 2025” programme. The school also promotes strong home‑school links, encouraging parental involvement and continuous professional development for staff.
Applying to St Olivers 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 Olivers 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 Olivers National School
How many pupils attend St Olivers National School?
St Olivers National School has 120 pupils enrolled, 59 girls and 61 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Olivers National School a DEIS school?
No. St Olivers 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 Olivers National School?
St Olivers National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by Eric Jones. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 2.0.