St Olafs National School
School Details
Location
About
St. Olaf’s National School is a co‑educational, vertical primary school catering for Junior Infants through to 6th Class, with an enrolment of over 500 pupils. The school provides a Catholic ethos while recognising and respecting all other faiths and non‑faith backgrounds, creating a caring, happy and secure atmosphere that supports the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural development of every child. A dedicated team of more than 40 staff members, including special needs assistants, work collaboratively with a strong Parents’ Association and the wider parish community to place pupils’ interests at the centre of all activities. The school boasts a range of facilities that support both academic and extra‑curricular pursuits. A modern PE hall, a substantial 2010 extension and forthcoming new classrooms provide ample space for teaching, sport and community events. The hall also serves as a venue for local groups such as scouts, guides, musical societies and the parish youth band. A vibrant programme of voluntary activities includes soccer, Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, tag rugby, basketball, chess, tennis, athletics, unihock, choir and many other clubs, reflecting the school’s commitment to holistic education and the development of pupils’ talents and confidence.
History
St. Olaf’s National School opened its doors on 2 September 1968 in a prefab, welcoming an initial cohort of 33 boys and girls under the leadership of its first principal. Rapid growth led to a dual‑day schedule and, in 1973, the separate boys’ and girls’ schools were officially opened by Archbishop Dermot Ryan and Minister for Education Richard Burke, each with eight classrooms and shared access to the PE hall. Following changes to Department of Education rules, the two schools merged into a mixed school in the mid‑1970s. Over the ensuing decades the school expanded its facilities, with the hall serving as a community centre and the construction of a new extension in 2010 to accommodate a current enrolment of around 530 pupils. In June 2021 the long‑serving principal retired and Mr John Murtagh assumed the role, and recent approval for four additional classrooms promises further growth.