Bushy Park National School
School Details
Location
About
Bushypark National School is a co‑educational primary school situated a short drive from Galway city, serving a wide catchment that includes Knocknacarra, Barna, Salthill, Newcastle, Moycullen and other surrounding areas. The school adopts a child‑centred, active‑learning approach, aiming to stimulate each pupil’s full potential in an environment that promotes mutual respect, responsibility and self‑esteem. A broad and balanced curriculum is complemented by a rich programme of extra‑curricular activities such as speech and drama, STEM club, basketball, chess, music, Gaelic football, hurling and arts and crafts, providing holistic development for all children. The campus features a state‑of‑the‑art, modern building with sixteen mainstream classrooms, numerous support teaching rooms, a well‑resourced library, a spacious school hall and gymnasium, as well as extensive outdoor facilities. These include a large playground, garden, outdoor learning areas and three full‑size Astro‑turf pitches that can be used for soccer or Gaelic games. The school also offers a hot‑meal service under the government’s pilot project, a pre‑school, and before‑ and after‑school care, supporting families throughout the day.
History
Founded in 1837 beside the local church, Bushypark National School moved to a new site in 1973 to meet growing demand. Extensions in 1983 added classrooms, a PE hall, office, staff room and library, with further upgrades in the late 1980s. A new PE hall was built in 1993, and a major refurbishment in 2006 expanded the school to thirteen classrooms and improved administrative and support spaces. In 2011 additional classrooms, four support rooms and first‑floor facilities with lift access were added. A 2014 project levelled the high‑level pitch, creating three accessible soccer pitches that also serve Gaelic games. Today the school accommodates over 380 pupils across Junior Infants to Sixth Class.