S N SAN NIOCLAS
School Details
Location
About
St Nicholas’ National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in the heart of Dundalk town. Operating under the patronage of the Church of Ireland, the school welcomes children of all faiths and none, fostering an inclusive, caring and happy learning environment. The curriculum is delivered in a vibrant setting that balances academic rigour with a wide range of extracurricular activities, including cross‑border programmes such as Peace Plus, entrepreneurship projects like Sam’s Business Bus, and regular STEM and engineering visits. The school’s facilities have been modernised to support both mainstream pupils and those with additional needs. A purpose‑built “Haven” opened in September 2017 provides two specialist classes for children with autism, each staffed by a teacher and two support assistants. In September 2022 a new building was completed to accommodate the mainstream classes alongside the Haven, offering contemporary classrooms, a well‑equipped hall for performances and assemblies, and access to local community resources such as the Dundalk Sports Centre and library trips. These developments reflect the school’s commitment to providing a supportive, forward‑looking education for all its pupils.
History
Education on the present site began in 1960 after the closure of the former schools that were based in Wellington Hall, St Mary’s Road. The original two‑teacher school has undergone two major transformations, the most recent being the opening of a new building in September 2022 to house both mainstream classes and the specialist autism provision. The Haven, a purpose‑built facility for children with autism, opened in September 2017 and currently comprises two classes of six pupils each.