Maryboro National School
School Details
Location
About
Maryborough National School is a Church of Ireland primary school situated on the Summerhill Campus in Portlaoise, sharing the site with a Gaelscoil and the Portlaoise Educate Together National School. The school’s ethos promotes the spiritual, intellectual, emotional and social development of its pupils, providing a nurturing environment where children are encouraged to explore their faith alongside a broad, balanced curriculum. The modern campus, opened in 2015, offers contemporary classrooms, a purpose‑built outdoor garden and classroom, and facilities that support a vibrant “Active Flag” programme, including physical education, partnership projects and Green Schools initiatives. These resources enable the school to deliver a holistic education that values academic achievement, physical wellbeing and environmental stewardship, while fostering a strong sense of community among families and staff.
History
Maryborough National School was originally constructed in 1897 on Stradbally Road, Portlaoise, commemorated by a plaque on the front wall. The building, funded by a grant from the Commissioners of National Education, comprised two rooms for up to 100 children and a teacher’s residence. By 1897 the school accommodated 61 pupils under Principal Archibald Kane. Over the following decades the school endured periods of epidemic closures, received upgrades such as indoor toilets and central heating, and saw major renovations in 1964, an additional classroom in 1989, and a prefabricated unit in the playground in 2004. In 2015 the school relocated to a brand‑new facility on the Summerhill Campus, marking a new chapter in its long‑standing history.