St Brendan's National SchoolScoil Naomh Breandáin, Loch Sionnaigh
A small school, a stone's throw from the sea.
One class per year and a beach at the end of the road.
Thinking of joining us?
A small school at its best
Every child here is known by name. We have one class in each year, a new outdoor classroom and the beach at the end of the road.
Book a visitAlready with us?
- Doors open8.50am
- Infants finish1.30pm
- 1st to 6th finish2.30pm
- Next closureStrike day, 14 Oct
Have a look around
What do you need?
A home from home, three minutes from the sea.
We are one of the few small rural schools left in North County Dublin and we see that as our great strength. With one class in each year from Junior Infants to Sixth, every teacher gets to know every family. We look after the big moves too, from the first morning in Junior Infants to the day they head off to secondary school.
The beach is at the end of the road and our grounds give the children room to explore, so a good part of their learning happens outdoors. We build the day around wellbeing and playful learning. We are lucky to have the space to do it properly.
Plenty of our families drive in from Skerries and Rush, which are only a few minutes away. St Brendan's is a co-educational Catholic primary school under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. Children of all cultures, beliefs and abilities are welcome here.
“Here, every child is known by every adult in the building. That is what a small school makes possible and it is what makes St Brendan’s a home from home.”
Kathy Lundy, Principal · Read Kathy’s welcome →
Times, lunches and the practical bits
Opening and closing
Doors open at 8.50am and class begins at 9.00am. Junior and Senior Infants finish at 1.30pm; First to Sixth Class finish at 2.30pm.
Drop-off and collection →Lunches
Hot lunches are on the way, with a hot and a cold option to choose from. Until they start, children bring their own lunch.
Ask about lunches →Booklists and uniform
This year's booklists for each class, the uniform list and where to buy the uniform locally.
Forms and downloads →Clubs and activities
This year Ms Sheehan is running an after-school club as a pilot. You will find details of it and every other club on our clubs page.
- After-school club
- Breakfast club, from January
- Rockshinny
- Ukulele
- Art and Doodle Club
- Choir
- Book clubs
- Brendan’s Buzz podcast
- Run 4 Fun Club
- Swimming
- Gaelic football
- Soccer
- Playball
- Athletics
- Basketball
- Gymnastics
- Cycling safety
Science Week on the strand, Maths Week in the yard, a Halloween catwalk, Santa arriving by fire engine and a choir that sings at the Blessing of the Boats.
The village on our doorstep
Loughshinny is one of the last working fishing coves on the Dublin coast. Our pupils know every corner of it like their own back garden.
The harbour
Crab and lobster boats still land here, 150 years after the granite pier was built.
The folded cliffs
Crumpled 290 million years ago. Geologists visit from all over the world and so does Fifth Class.
Three minutes
From the school gate to the sand. Science Week happens at low tide.
The Martello tower
Tower No. 8 of twelve on the Fingal coast, built around 1805.
Drumanagh fort
Ireland's largest promontory fort. In 2025 archaeologists found the country's first whole Roman pot here.
Since 1867
Three school buildings in one village. The full story is on the Our school page.
News and notices
- 6 October 2026School closed on 14 and 21 October for strike action
St Brendan's will be closed to all pupils on Wednesday 14 October and Wednesday 21 October because of the INTO strike days.
- 3 October 2026After-school care is coming to St Brendan’s
From September 2027, BrightPath Academy will run after-school care here at the school, from 1.30 to 6.30pm, with food.
- 2 October 2026Join us! Junior Infants, September 2027
Applications for Junior Infants, September 2027, open on Wednesday 6 January 2027, online through Aladdin.
New things on the way
These are some of the things we are working on this year. Many of them depend on parents, so please get involved if you can.
The Parents' Association
The PA organises our events and raises money for the extras. New faces are always welcome. It takes far less time than most people expect.
How to join the PA →A breakfast club
Breakfast club starts after Christmas with Mr McAuley, from 8am, so you can drop the children in and still get to work on time. Tell us if you would like a place.
Register your interest →Hot lunches are coming
Hot lunches are going ahead, with a choice of a hot or a cold option. If you have questions in the meantime, just ask.
Ask about lunches →An Autism Class for Loughshinny
St Brendan’s has been granted an Autism Class, which we hope to open in September 2027, so that more children in this community can be taught in their own village.
Find out more →Payments, forms and policies
Make a payment
Book rental, trips, swimming and the Parents' Association contribution are all paid through Aladdin, the same app you already use.
Go to payments →Forms and downloads
Enrolment forms, booklists, consent forms, the uniform list and the school calendar.
Download forms →Policies
Admission policy and this year's admissions notice, Child Safeguarding Statement, Bí Cineálta policy and the code of behaviour.
Read our policies →Support our school
Donations pay for the things our grants do not stretch to, like library books, sports gear and the gardens Packie Markey started. You can give online or drop a cheque into the office.
@stbrendans.n.sloughshinny
Follow us on Instagram
Junior Infants, September 2027
Applications open on Wednesday 6 January 2027, online through Aladdin. You can read our Annual Admissions Notice and Admissions Policy here before you apply.
How to apply Ask us a question- Questions go straight to our secretary and we reply within two school days
- Phone 01 849 0394, office open 8.30am to 2.45pm
- Visits for new families are welcome, just ask
Ask us anything
If you are thinking about a place for your child, or you just have a quick question, send it here and it will go straight to the office.
No question is too small. If you would rather talk to someone, the office is open from 8.30am to 2.45pm during term.
We come back to enquiries within two school days.