SCOIL PADRAIG NAOFA B
School Details
About
St. Patrick’s Boys’ National School, Hollypark is a large vertical primary school serving the Catholic parish of Foxrock and the surrounding community, while welcoming pupils of all faiths and nationalities. The school adopts a child‑centred approach, recognising each learner as an individual and providing a rich, varied curriculum that balances the national primary syllabus with tailored programmes to meet diverse needs. Emphasis is placed on building happiness, confidence and resilience, underpinned by a strong ethos of empathy, respect and active participation. French language tuition is offered in senior classes through a cultural agreement with the neighbouring Lycée Français d’Irlande, and a wide range of extra‑curricular activities—including sports, science projects and gardening—support holistic development. The campus features modern facilities such as a purpose‑built computer room, a well‑equipped library managed by a parent committee, and extensive outdoor spaces comprising a senior and junior playground, a grass football pitch and garden areas. These spaces are used for break‑times, physical education, after‑school clubs and community events such as the annual Sports Day. The school’s daily timetable runs from 8.40 am to 2.25 pm (with an earlier finish for infants), and a clear health, safety and behaviour framework ensures a safe, orderly environment that promotes positive relationships and self‑discipline.
History
St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark opened on 1 October 1966 as a co‑educational three‑teacher school housed in prefabricated rooms to serve the rapidly growing Foxrock area. A permanent building, designed by Guy Moloney and Associates, was completed in September 1969, at which point the school split into separate boys’ and girls’ schools, each occupying part of the original ten classrooms. Over the following decades the school expanded with a glass corridor and six classrooms in 1971, a new building for the girls’ school and further extensions in 1974, a dedicated computer room in 1998 and two additional classrooms in 2005. The school shares its campus with the Lycée Français d’Irlande, enabling French language instruction for senior pupils. It was formally opened and blessed by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. Successive principals have overseen continued growth, and today the school boasts extensive playgrounds, a football pitch, garden areas and a vibrant parent‑association supporting a wide range of activities.