Eoin Baisde Boys Sois
School Details
Location
About
St John the Baptist Junior Boys’ National School, commonly known as Belgrove Junior Boys, is a Catholic primary school for boys aged 5 to 8. Situated on the Belgrove campus in Clontarf, the school accommodates over 320 pupils across 12 classrooms, ranging from Junior Infants to Second Class. A dedicated team of around 30 staff members delivers a broad, balanced curriculum that places strong emphasis on literacy, numeracy, sport, the arts and emerging technologies. Classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards, class‑wide audio systems and a fleet of iPads, enabling dynamic, hands‑on learning experiences. The school benefits from modern facilities following a major redevelopment completed in 2012, which added a two‑storey block of ten classrooms and refurbished the infant corridor. Extra‑curricular provision is extensive, with GAA sessions, dance and drumming workshops, STEM week, Arts Day and regular school productions, fostering well‑rounded development. Strong home‑school links are encouraged through an active parents’ association and close collaboration with the Clontarf Parish Pastoral Team and the Archdiocese of Dublin.
History
The name “Belgrove” likely derives from the French *belle* (beautiful) and *grove*. The original school buildings were erected around 1846 on Vernon Avenue, later becoming the site of Holy Faith Convent’s all‑weather hockey pitch. In 1940 the school moved to St John’s House (now Belgrove House) on two acres of land, adopting the name St John the Baptist Schools, though “Belgrove” remained the popular moniker. By the mid‑1950s enrolments had swelled to 700 boys and 600 girls, prompting the construction of a nine‑room Junior Boys’ School in 1955/56, followed by ten additional classrooms for the Senior Boys’ School in 1964; the girls were relocated in 1971. Notable author John McGahern taught at the school before his literary fame. After a period of extensive construction and refurbishment under Principal John O’Sullivan from 2010, the school now boasts modern facilities and a staff of 30.