Our Lady Of Good Counsel NS
School Details
Location
About
Our Lady of Good Counsel Girls’ National School is a vibrant primary school situated on Knocknarea Road in Drimnagh, Dublin. The school provides a caring, values‑led environment for girls from junior infants to sixth class, organised into a range of class groups such as St Therese 1‑4, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th classes. Daily life is guided by the “Golden Rules” – being gentle, kind, helpful, honest, hardworking and respectful of property – and reinforced by clear school rules that promote good manners, punctuality, uniform standards and a safe, quiet corridor culture. The curriculum is underpinned by a strong emphasis on personal development alongside academic achievement, encouraging pupils to listen, cooperate and strive for their best. Although the original complex was built in the 1940s as one of the largest and most modern school sites in Europe, the school continues to benefit from spacious, well‑maintained facilities that support a broad range of learning activities and extracurricular events, such as the recent Grandparents’ Day celebration and class‑wide attendance drives.
History
The parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel on Mourne Road was established on 9 April 1943. The Sisters of Mercy arrived on 3 January 1944 to manage and teach in both the Infants’ and Girls’ schools, while a Boys’ National School opened concurrently. Despite wartime shortages, the three‑school complex was completed ahead of schedule and officially opened by Minister of Education Thomas Derrig on 10 January 1944. At the time it was one of the largest primary school sites in Europe, housing over 3,800 pupils across 44 classrooms and 76 rooms. In 1956 the Sisters of Mercy expanded the Girls’ school to provide post‑primary (secondary) education for girls.