Dominican Primary School
School Details
Location
About
Dominican Primary School is a vibrant Catholic primary school situated in the heart of Dún Laoghaire. The school’s ethos is centred on the education of the whole person, fostering truth about God, the world, self and destiny. Learning is delivered in partnership with parents and aims to develop respect, responsibility, initiative, personal growth and leadership within a trusting community. The curriculum is complemented by a range of extra‑curricular programmes, including an Active School initiative that promotes physical activity and environmental stewardship, as well as Creative Schools projects that have welcomed a harpist and a circus act to inspire creativity. The school celebrates kindness through events such as the “Bí Cineálta” week and maintains a strong anti‑bullying stance. Facilities accommodate classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class, with dedicated spaces for after‑school clubs and a historic oratory that reflects the school’s rich heritage.
History
In July 1847 six Dominican nuns arrived in Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) and established a convent at Echo Lodge. They opened a day school for young ladies on 26 July 1847 and a boarding school in September of the same year. Construction of the National School began on 2 February 1848 and it opened on 21 November 1848, blessed under the protection of the Blessed Virgin and St Aloysius. The school grew rapidly, serving 867 children by 1865, and later expanded its community with an oratory built in 1919. The boarding school closed in 1971 and the secondary school ceased operations in 1991. In November 1998 the school marked its 150th anniversary with a celebration attended by President Mary McAleese and Archbishop Desmond Connell.