Monday
Boots on
From October the junior and senior teams train on Monday afternoons at the local pitch, with Gaelic football coaching from St Maur's GAA. Everyone gets a go.
Thinking of joining us?
The questions parents usually ask us, answered in one place, so you have them before you pick up the phone.
Open days
Come and see us at work
The best way to know if St Brendan's is right for your child is to walk around it on an ordinary school morning.
On a tour we walk you through the school and grounds while classes are going on. You will meet the principal and the infant teachers, along with our special needs assistants, our special education teachers and the school secretary. Bring your child and your questions. Nothing has to be filled in or decided on the day.
Let us know you're coming Ring 01 849 0394
Just turning up is fine too. Letting us know helps us have someone free to show you around.
Next open days
- Friday 23 October10 to 11am
- Wednesday 4 November10 to 11am
- Wednesday 2 December10 to 11am
- Monday 11 January 202710 to 11am
- Wednesday 20 January 202710 to 11am
Everyone is welcome, whether your child is starting next September or in a few years' time.
What being small means for your child
St Brendan's has one class for each year, from Junior Infants right through to Sixth. Every teacher in the building will know your child by name and nobody gets lost in a big year group. It is often the first thing families notice when they walk in.
The beach is three minutes from the gate, so we plan Science Week around low tide. Our choir sings at the Blessing of the Boats and Fifth Class study the folded cliffs that geologists travel from abroad to see.
We are a co-educational Catholic primary school under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. While maintaining a Catholic ethos we recognise and welcome children of all cultures, beliefs and languages and we welcome children of differing abilities and needs, accommodating them as resources allow.
We are about seven minutes from Skerries and ten from Rush. Plenty of our families drive in from both.
A week in the life
What a week here feels like
No two weeks are quite the same, but here is a taste of a typical one at St Brendan’s.
Tuesday
Lessons outside
When the weather is kind, lessons move out to our new outdoor classroom. It might be a story under the sky, maths with things the children can pick up or a visit to the pond.
Wednesday
Down to the shore
The shore is one of our favourite places to learn. Rock pools, shells and the cliffs all find their way into lessons. Wednesday is also Welly Walk day, when every Sixth Class pupil heads out with their own Junior or Senior Infant buddy.
Thursday
Making and music
Thursday morning starts with choir practice for the next festival or regatta. Later it is Art and Doodle Club with Ms Rooney, which usually means paint and glue everywhere.
Friday
Assembly and friends
Every Friday the whole school gathers for assembly, where Sixth Class share the latest episode of Brendan’s Buzz, our school podcast. Then home for the weekend with a story to tell.
And every day
- 8.50amDoors open, with a hello from someone who knows your name.
- 9.00amClass begins.
- 10.50amFirst break, out in the air.
- 12.15pmLunch, eaten together and supervised by teachers, then play.
- 1.30pmJunior and Senior Infants head home.
- 2.30pmFirst to Sixth Class finish.
- 6.30pmFrom September 2027, after-school care with BrightPath Academy runs until 6.30pm, with food.
Room to grow
The sea is our other classroom
Children here have room to run, to dig, to look closely at a beetle or to sit quietly under a tree. With big grounds and the sea at the end of the road, outdoor play is part of how we learn and how we look after each other.
Our outdoor classroom
New this year, with room for a whole class to learn outside.
The beach
Three minutes from the gate, with rock pools and shells for science lessons.
Space
Big grounds for a small school, with room for every child to run about.
The pond
A small wild corner of the grounds. The children love to look in and see who has moved in.
Our grounds
Award-winning gardens, cared for over many years by our late caretaker Packie Markey and still a joy to play in.
Wellies welcome
Muddy knees mean a good day. Pack a spare pair of socks.
Wellbeing first
Fresh air and a run around do wonders for busy minds.
Learning that sticks
A shell in your hand teaches more than a picture on a page.
Growing together
Older children look out for younger ones. Classes pair up for paired reading through the year and every Sixth Class pupil has a Junior or Senior Infant buddy for our Wednesday Welly Walks.
Book a visit and see it for yourself
In Maths Week and Science Week, older and younger classes team up so the big ones can show off their experiments and games to the small ones and everyone learns something.
If your child needs a little more support
Every child learns in their own way. In a small school we have the time to find out what suits each one.
We have 174 pupils, with four special education teachers and five special needs assistants. They work with children right across the school. With one class in each year, they know every child they support and every class teacher well, so nothing gets lost from one year to the next.
We welcome children of differing abilities and needs and we accommodate them as our resources allow. Our support team keeps in close contact with the local secondary schools, so children are well prepared when the time comes to move on.
If you would like to know how we would look after your child, come in and meet the people who would be doing it. A cup of tea and a chat is a good place to start.
How we support every child Ring us on 01 849 0394 Meet our staff
Questions parents often ask
The practical answers, all in one place.
How big is the school?
We have one class in each year from Junior Infants to Sixth Class, with boys and girls together. We are one of the few small rural schools left in North County Dublin.
What are the hours?
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.
What about lunch?
Break is 10.50 to 11.00am and lunch is 12.15 to 12.45pm, supervised by teachers. Hot lunches, with a hot and a cold option, are rolling out in the coming weeks. Until then, children bring their own lunch.
Is there a uniform?
Children can wear either the school uniform or the school tracksuit, whichever suits. Both are available from Philanns (Whizz Kids), 1 Strand Street, Skerries, phone 01 849 1276.
Where do I park?
There is parking in the village. Please observe the no parking lines and please do not park opposite the school gates or in either of the staff car parks.
How will I hear from the school?
We use Aladdin Connect for messages, absences and payments, so it is all in one app on your phone. Parent and teacher meetings are held annually and you can make an appointment with a class teacher at any time.
What if my child needs extra support?
We welcome children of differing abilities and needs and we accommodate them as our resources allow. Our support team also keeps in close contact with the secondary schools for when the time comes to move on. You are very welcome to come in and meet them before you decide anything at all. Read how we support every child.
Where exactly are you?
Loughshinny village, Skerries, Co. Dublin, Eircode K34 T853. Signposted off the Skerries road. Our Department of Education roll number is 16844S.
Is there after-school care?
Yes, from September 2027. BrightPath Academy will run after-school care here at the school from 1.30 to 6.30pm, with food, so your child can stay somewhere familiar until the end of the working day. It is run independently of the school and you book directly with BrightPath. Register your interest. This year, Ms Sheehan is running a pilot after-school club at the school; email roisin.sheehan@loughshinnyns.ie for prices.
Is there a breakfast club?
Yes, from January 2027. Breakfast club starts after Christmas with Mr McAuley, from 8am. Email ross.mcauley@loughshinnyns.ie to ask about a place.
Clubs and activities
For a school this size there is a great deal going on, most of it run by our own staff and by parents from the village.
- Gaelic football
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Run 4 Fun Club
- Playball
- Athletics
- Choir
- Rockshinny
- Ukulele
- Art and Doodle Club
- Buddy Club
- Gardening Club
- Book Club
- Brendan’s Buzz podcast
- Chess
- Yoga
Swimming and yoga are subsidised by our Parents' Association. Gaelic coaching comes from St Maur's GAA, while Playball and soccer coaching are on offer from outside companies.
Getting to know us before you start
Most families have been through our door a good few times before their child's first morning in Junior Infants.
Open days
Come and walk around while the school is working, with children in the classrooms and the yard in use. It tells you far more than an empty building on a Saturday ever could. Bring your child and bring your questions.
See the next open day dates at the top of this page.
School fundraisers
Fundraisers run through the year, along with the social events the Parents' Association puts on. They are open to anyone in the village, including families whose children have not started yet. It is an easy way to meet the parents your child will grow up alongside.
Transition into school and on to secondary
We take great care over the big moves. We work with the local preschools so that starting Junior Infants feels like a small step. Plenty of our Junior Infants walk in on the first day already knowing the building, the yard and a few faces. At the other end, our Sixth Class teacher and support team work closely with parents and with the secondary schools nearby, including St Joseph’s in Rush, Skerries Community College and Loreto in Balbriggan. Children move on knowing what to expect.
A school in the middle of a village
Our old school building is now the village Community Centre and our choir sings at the Blessing of the Boats. Coaching from St Maur's GAA and support from Loughshinny United mean the children get to know the clubs they may end up playing for. It is hard to say where the school ends and the village begins.
Come and see us
Twenty minutes walking around will tell you more than anything on this website. You are welcome to visit long before you need to decide anything.
Ring the office and we will find a time that suits you. We will show you the classrooms, introduce you to the teachers and walk you round the grounds. Bring your child along so they can see the yard, the outdoor classroom and the pond. A visit does not commit you to anything.
Ring us on 01 849 0394 Email the office
The office is open 8.30am to 2.45pm during term. Ask for Kathy Lundy, our Principal.
When you are ready to apply
Applications for Junior Infants are made online through Aladdin and open on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The Annual Admissions Notice and the Admissions Policy are published here in full, so you can read them before you apply.
Apply online through Aladdin Enrolment and admissions
Applications open on Wednesday 6 January 2027. If you would rather fill in a paper form, you can download the Application Form for Admission (PDF). The Annual Admissions Notice and Admissions Policy are on the Enrolment page.
Have a look around first
Questions we get asked
What is St Brendan's N.S. in Loughshinny like as a school?
St Brendan's is a small co-educational Catholic primary school in the village of Loughshinny, with one class for each level from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. It is one of the few remaining small rural schools in North County Dublin. The beach is three minutes from the school gate and outdoor play and nature are part of the ordinary week.
Does St Brendan's take children from outside Loughshinny village?
Yes. The school takes children from Loughshinny and the surrounding North County Dublin area and many families drive in from Skerries and Rush. The school is about seven minutes from Skerries and ten minutes from Rush, signposted off the Skerries road.
What support is there at St Brendan's for a child with additional needs?
The school welcomes children of differing abilities and needs and accommodates them as resources allow. There is a support team in the school, which also liaises with the support teams in the local secondary schools when children move on. Parents are encouraged to ring the office on 01 849 0394 and talk through a child's needs before applying.
What sports and clubs are available at St Brendan's N.S.?
During the school day there is Run 4 Fun Club with Ms Doyle and Ms Rennicks (free), Buddy Club with Ms Halpin and Ms Deering on Mondays and Wednesdays, Art and Doodle Club with Ms Rooney on Thursdays, choir with Ms Byrne and Ms Halpin on Thursday mornings, Gardening Club with Ms Creamer and Ms Cunnane on Tuesdays and Fridays, Book Club with Ms Cunnane and Chess Club with Mr Keary on Fridays at lunchtime. Sixth Class produce Brendan's Buzz, our school podcast, which is shared at assembly every Friday. Swimming usually runs in Term 3 for Fourth and Fifth Class and is subsidised by the Parents' Association. The school also offers Gaelic football with St Maur's GAA, athletics and yoga. Run privately and separately from the school, Rockshinny (the school rock band) runs on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2.30pm to 3.30pm and ukulele runs from 2.30pm to 3.20pm on Mondays for Third and Fourth Class and on Tuesdays for First and Second Class. Outside companies run after-school soccer on Mondays and Playball on Wednesdays, from 1.30pm for Junior and Senior Infants and from 2.30pm for the older classes.
Can I look around St Brendan's N.S. before deciding?
Yes. The school would much prefer it. Ring the office on 01 849 0394 and a time will be arranged to show you the classrooms, introduce you to the teachers and walk you round the grounds. There is no application and no commitment involved in a visit and you are welcome to bring your child.
Is there after-school care?
Yes, from September 2027. BrightPath Academy will run after-school care at the school from 1.30 to 6.30pm, with food. It is run independently of the school and families book directly with BrightPath Academy at brightpathacademy.ie. This year Ms Sheehan is running a pilot after-school club at the school.
How do you help children settle in and move on to secondary school?
Transition matters to the school at both ends of primary. The school works with the preschools in the area so that starting Junior Infants feels like a small step and new families are welcome to visit beforehand. At the other end, the Sixth Class teacher and the support team work closely with the local secondary schools and with parents, so that children move on knowing what to expect.
Is there a breakfast club?
Yes, from January 2027. Breakfast club starts after Christmas with Mr McAuley, from 8am. Contact ross.mcauley@loughshinnyns.ie to ask about a place.