St Conleths And Marys National School
School Details
Location
About
St Conleth & Mary’s National School is a co‑educational senior primary situated on the Naas Road in Newbridge, County Kildare. It welcomes pupils from 2nd to 6th class and operates under a Catholic ethos that underpins its pastoral care and curriculum. The school day runs from 9.10 am to 2.50 pm, with a mid‑morning break at 11.00 am and a one‑hour lunch at 1.00 pm. A dedicated team of teachers, special‑needs assistants and support staff provide a caring learning environment where each child is encouraged to reach their full potential. The school offers a broad range of extra‑curricular activities that complement the academic programme, including boys’ and girls’ football, debating, a quiz team and a school choir. These opportunities promote teamwork, confidence and community spirit. Modern classroom facilities, specialist resource rooms and well‑maintained outdoor play areas support a balanced approach to learning, while the school’s strong links with parents and the local community foster a collaborative atmosphere for holistic development.
History
The original state‑funded girls’ school in Newbridge opened in 1842 and was taken over by the Holy Family Sisters in 1875. An infant school was established on Station Road in 1892, later moving in 1915 to a building on the banks of the Liffey within the Patrician Primary School grounds. In 1952 the present site was acquired and construction began on 1 June; the new St Conleth’s Infant School and St Conleth’s Girls’ School were blessed on 4 October 1953 and officially opened by Minister for Education Seán Moylan. The schools became co‑educational and were renamed St Conleth & Mary’s Primary School in 1989/1990. Management transferred from the Holy Family Sisters to lay leadership in 1988, with the last teaching sister retiring in 2007. A statue of Our Lady, presented by the people of Newbridge in 1960, remains a prominent feature at the front of the school.