St Oliver Plunket National School
School Details
Location
About
St. Oliver Plunkett National School is a co‑educational, Catholic primary school that aims to provide a well‑ordered, caring, happy and secure environment for its pupils. The school adopts a holistic educational approach, seeking to meet the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of each child and to encourage them to reach their full potential. While the ethos is Catholic, the school recognises and respects all other religions and promotes inclusive values throughout the curriculum and community life. The school benefits from a purpose‑built eight‑classroom, two‑storey extension added in the mid‑1970s, providing modern learning spaces for the junior and senior classes. A strong emphasis is placed on parental involvement through the Parents’ Association and regular home‑school communication. Extra‑curricular highlights include participation in the FAI Schools Primary 5s programme, celebration of Seachtain na Gaeilge, and a Creative Schools Wellbeing Week that fosters creativity, wellbeing and community spirit among pupils.
History
St. Oliver Plunkett National School opened its doors to its first pupils on 8 January 1899, originally operating as separate Boys and Girls National Schools in two rooms. In 1970 the two schools were amalgamated, and in 1976 an eight‑classroom, two‑storey extension was constructed. The extension was blessed and officially opened by Archbishop Tómas O’Fiaich on 15 April 1978. By 1976 the roll was 386 pupils; the highest enrolment recorded was 468 pupils in June 1988, with 445 pupils on roll in June 2019. The school currently employs a team of teachers, SNAs, a full‑time secretary and caretaker.