St Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns)
Foxrock, Dublin
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 478 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19259W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Patrick’s G.N.S., Hollypark is a vibrant primary school serving the Dublin 18 community. With roughly 500 pupils across 20 mainstream classes and a dedicated team of special‑education teachers, the school offers a warm, caring environment that encourages friendship and personal growth. The curriculum is enriched by specialist provision, including physical‑education teachers, French instruction from third to sixth class, and a violin teacher for younger pupils. A broad range of after‑school clubs and extracurricular activities further supports the development of pupils’ interests and talents. The school places a strong emphasis on smooth transitions for new entrants, providing a two‑week shortened timetable for Junior Infants, an Independence Day where infants walk to class unaided, and a welcoming coffee session for parents. Regular events such as CyberSafe workshops, PA Ladies Lunches, movie nights and cultural celebrations like Féile na dTeangacha create a lively community spirit. Modern facilities and a supportive culture aim to nurture each child’s full potential and foster a lifelong love of learning.
History
Hollypark began as a co-educational school for the growing Foxrock area, opening on 1st October 1966 as a three-teacher school housed in prefabs on the site later occupied by the Lycée Français d'Irlande. Mrs. Honor Byrne was appointed Principal. A permanent building designed by Guy Moloney and Associates followed, and when it was completed in September 1969 the school divided into two single-sex schools, Hollypark BNS and Hollypark GNS, both still sharing the same building; Mrs. Byrne led the girls' school and Mr. Colm O'Shea led the boys' school. In 1970, after the Franco-Irish Cultural Agreement, the Lycée Français d'Irlande opened on the campus using vacated prefabs. A glass corridor and further classrooms were added in 1971. A new building went up in 1974 for Hollypark GNS alone, leaving Hollypark BNS in the original building, and two more classrooms followed in 2015.
Applying to St Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns)
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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns). 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 Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns)
How many pupils attend St Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns)?
St Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns) has 478 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns) a DEIS school?
No. St Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns) 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 Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns)?
St Patricks Girls National School (Hollypark Gns) has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' primary school.