ST GABRIELS NS
School Details
About
St. Gabriel’s Primary School is a Catholic‑patroned community school situated on Ballyfermot Road, welcoming children of all faiths, nationalities and traditions. The school provides a holistic education for pupils aged 4‑12, delivering the full Irish primary curriculum alongside a strong emphasis on spiritual, moral and physical development. Learning is enriched through a wide range of extra‑curricular activities, including music, drama, sport and environmental projects such as the “Green Flag” and “Active Flag” initiatives. The campus boasts modern facilities that support contemporary teaching and learning, including a dedicated computer room, library, student cookery room, gardening area, and specialised music and drama space. Classrooms are well‑resourced and equipped with interactive whiteboards, forming part of a virtual learning environment that enhances engagement. The school also offers targeted support for pupils with special educational needs and for gifted learners, employing innovative approaches in mathematics problem‑solving and differentiated literacy instruction. Strong partnership with parents and the local community underpins the school’s ethos of kindness, inclusion and academic excellence, ensuring each child can reach their full potential in a caring, supportive atmosphere.
History
St. Gabriel’s was founded on 8 March 1953 when six Dominican Sisters, led by Mother Ignatius, opened the first school in Ballyfermot at the request of Archbishop Dr Mc Quaid. Initially an infant girls’ school within a larger Dominican campus that also included St Michael’s and St Raphael’s, the site quickly expanded to accommodate up to 4 000 pupils, becoming the largest primary school campus in Europe at the time. Re‑organisation in 1979 created three vertical schools (Junior Infants to 6th class). In 1987 the campus was rationalised to two buildings, with St Gabriel’s remaining in its original premises. The most recent change, in 2015, transitioned the school to a co‑educational model, gradually retaining boys beyond first class and adapting resources to meet evolving social and emotional needs.