Barnashrone National School
School Details
Location
About
Barnashrone National School is a small rural DEIS Catholic primary school situated at the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, roughly 4 km from Mountmellick and 6.5 km from Portlaoise. The school embraces an inclusive ethos, welcoming pupils of all abilities, denominations and cultural backgrounds, and aims to foster the full and harmonious development of each child – intellectually, physically, culturally, morally and spiritually. A strong emphasis is placed on creating a nurturing, welcoming environment where diverse traditions are celebrated and children are encouraged to build respectful relationships with one another and with God. The curriculum is delivered within modern classroom facilities that support a range of learning activities, and the school provides a daily free hot meal for every pupil through a dedicated lunch app. Extra‑curricular provision includes wellbeing and anti‑bullying programmes, and the school maintains an up‑to‑date calendar of events and news to keep families informed. As a DEIS school, Barnashrone benefits from additional resources aimed at supporting disadvantaged learners and promoting equity across the community.
History
School records date back to 1864, with early 20th‑century pupils paying a half‑penny per day to attend. The present school building opened on 1 September 1958, initially accommodating 64 children. The first principal of the new premises was Thomas Flynn, assisted by deputy Susan Breen. In 2008, Aileen Delaney became principal, continuing the school’s tradition of inclusive, Catholic education.