Clubs and activities
Sport, music and art are a big part of school life here. Children of all ages take part and the senior classes get the chance to play for school teams.
Sport through the year
Gaelic football
Our teams play in the Fingal league, which begins in March. Mr McAuley trains the boys on Fridays during school time. A day for the girls' training is still to be confirmed. St Maur's GAA provides coaching through the year.
Run 4 Fun Club
What used to be cross country is now Run 4 Fun Club, run for fun and fitness, fresh air and chats with friends. Ms Doyle and Ms Rennicks run it during school time and it is free.
Soccer
Soccer is very popular in the village and we get great support from Loughshinny United. We run skills sessions for the junior classes through the FAI, enter girls' and boys' teams in the FAI five-a-side competitions and finish the year with a fun mini-blitz for Third to Sixth.
Athletics
We enter the Cumann na mBunscol sports day at Morton Stadium each year, which gives our sprinters and relay teams their day out.
Swimming
Swimming is part of our curriculum and in a harbour village we think it matters more than most. Lessons usually run in Term 3 for Fourth and Fifth Class, during school time. They are subsidised by the Parents' Association. The price changes from year to year, so we confirm it each year before lessons start.
Yoga
A block of sessions for the junior classes in the spring term with a qualified instructor, also subsidised by the Parents' Association.
Sport here is about being active, healthy and fit. We hope that what children try at St Brendan's keeps them playing and sends a few of them on to the clubs around us.
During the school day
All of these clubs run within school time, led by our own staff.
Art and Doodle Club
Ms Rooney runs Art and Doodle Club on Thursdays.
Choir
Ms Byrne and Ms Halpin run the choir on Thursday mornings. Our choir sings beyond the school gates too, at local festivals and regattas.
Book Club
Ms Cunnane runs Book Club in the Nurture Room and library, a new space for reading, chatting about books and a bit of calm. Days to be confirmed.
Brendan’s Buzz
Our school podcast, produced by Sixth Class and shared with the whole school at assembly every Friday.
Buddy Club
Ms Halpin and Ms Deering run Buddy Club on Mondays and Wednesdays. It is a calm space for children who find yard time a bit much or find it hard to join in, where they make friends and grow in confidence at their own pace.
Gardening Club
Ms Creamer and Ms Cunnane run Gardening Club on Tuesdays and Fridays, growing and learning in our garden, outdoor classroom and wildlife pond.
Typing group
Typing is useful for every child and especially for children who use assistive technology. How we support every child.
Chess Club
Mr Keary runs Chess Club on Fridays at lunchtime.
After school
These clubs are run privately and separately from the school, outside school time. For prices and places, contact the organiser directly.
Rockshinny
Rockshinny is the St Brendan’s school rock band, with Mr Keary. The band practises every Monday and Tuesday from 2.30pm to 3.30pm and rehearsals work towards shows in Rush Library and the Millbank. The songs are covers of modern and classic songs, everything from The Beatles to Nirvana to Taylor Swift.
For prices, email Mr Keary at rory.keary@loughshinnyns.ie.
Ukulele
Ukulele with Mr McAuley runs from 2.30pm to 3.20pm, on Mondays for Third and Fourth Class and on Tuesdays for First and Second Class. For prices, email ross.mcauley@loughshinnyns.ie.
Soccer
After-school soccer runs on Mondays, from 1.30pm to 2.30pm for Junior and Senior Infants and from 2.30pm to 3.30pm for First to Sixth Class. It is run by an outside company. Ask the office for details.
Playball
Playball runs on Wednesdays, from 1.30pm to 2.30pm for Junior and Senior Infants and from 2.30pm to 3.30pm for First to Fourth Class. It is run by an outside company. Ask the office for details.
After-school club, a pilot this year
This year we are piloting an after-school club, run by Ms Sheehan. For prices, email roisin.sheehan@loughshinnyns.ie.
Before and after school care
Breakfast club, from January
Breakfast club starts after Christmas with Mr McAuley, from 8am. To ask about a place, email ross.mcauley@loughshinnyns.ie.
After-school care, from September 2027
BrightPath Academy will run after-school care here at the school from September 2027, from 1.30 to 6.30pm, with food. It is run independently of the school and you book directly with them.
Signing up
Dates, fixtures and sign-up notices come out through Aladdin Connect and are listed on our calendar. If you are not sure whether something is running, ring the office on 01 849 0394.