St Benedicts and St Marys National School
School Details
Location
About
St Benedict’s & St Mary’s National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in the Grange Park area of Raheny, Dublin 5. The school welcomes children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class, providing a nurturing environment built around its motto “Love, Laugh, Learn”. A strong emphasis is placed on inclusive education, with dedicated provision for pupils with autism spectrum disorder and specialised nurture rooms that support early years development and personalised learning pathways. The school’s facilities have evolved with the community: modernised classrooms, a well‑maintained playing field and a former resource centre now serve both academic and extracurricular activities. Participation in programmes such as Green Schools, Active Schools, the Amber Flag and a vibrant Student Council reflects a holistic approach that encourages environmental awareness, physical wellbeing and student leadership. Regular projects, events and showcases of children’s work are highlighted throughout the year, fostering a lively, colour‑rich atmosphere that engages families and the wider community.
History
When the new Grange Park estate was developed in 1967‑68, the parish priest Monsignor Fitzpatrick sought permission to establish two schools for the emerging community. St Benedict’s opened on 5 May 1969 with 80 pupils in Junior/Senior Infants and First Class. Rapid growth saw enrolments reach 972 by July 1973, prompting the opening of St Mary’s Junior School for younger children. By 1978 each school accommodated around 1 000 pupils, with St Mary’s becoming the largest junior school in Ireland (≈ 1 100 pupils). At their peak both schools operated nine classes per level and utilised forty classrooms plus seven prefabricated units. Declining numbers in the late 1980s led to the removal of the prefabs and development of the playing field. In 1995 St Mary’s moved into refurbished rooms within St Benedict’s, and the former St Mary’s building was handed to the community as a resource centre in 1996. The two schools operated side‑by‑side until 30 August 2007, when they amalgamated to form St Benedict’s & St Mary’s National School, continuing to serve boys and girls from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.