Our school
A small school with one class in each year from Junior Infants to Sixth, a beach at the end of the road and a village that has had a school since 1867.
A word from our principal
Fáilte and welcome to St Brendan’s.
We are one of the few small rural schools left in North County Dublin. I am reminded every day what a gift that is.
Here, every child is known by every adult in the building, from the first nervous morning in Junior Infants to the last day of Sixth Class. We know who is learning to swim, who has a new baby sister, who needs a quiet five minutes and who needs a job to do. That is what a small school makes possible and it is what makes St Brendan’s a home from home.
We are lucky in our setting too. The beach is at the end of the road, our grounds are full of places to explore and nature and outdoor play are part of the ordinary school week. We build each day around wellbeing and playful learning, because children who are happy and feel safe learn well.
If you are thinking about St Brendan’s for your child, the best thing you can do is come and see us on an ordinary morning. Bring your child and your questions. I would love to show you around.
Our ethos
St Brendan's is a Catholic 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.
Our vision is to develop the full potential of the child, both morally and academically. We seek to promote a happy and safe working environment where children learn at their own pace and become responsible and willing members of the community.
The school is co-educational with one class for each level from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. Our current building opened in 1989. The old school building is now used for many varying community initiatives.
Three schools in a hundred years
- 1867The original schoolhouse is built, one classroom with accommodation for the School Mistress upstairs. It is a private residence today. The roll books in the school still date back to this year.
- 1921The coastguard station in the village is burned. The roll books carry the names of the coastguards' children who were taught here in British times.
- 1929The second school is built, originally two classrooms. It is now the village Community Centre.
- 1937Pupils of the school contribute to the Irish Folklore Commission's nationwide schools project, collecting folklore and seanchas from every townland in Ireland. The school still holds copies of what its children wrote.
- 1989The present school opens and becomes the centrepiece of the village.
Our grounds
Our school grounds are something we are very proud of and the person most responsible for them was our caretaker, Packie Markey.
Packie came to us from Malahide and soon became part of the life of Loughshinny. He took meticulous care of these grounds and won many awards for the work over the years and the whole village knew it. Packie has since passed. The school and the village still enjoy his grounds every day. Every child who plays out there is playing on his work.
The village
Loughshinny sits on the Irish Sea coast of North Fingal, midway between Rush and Skerries, about seven minutes from Skerries and ten from Rush. It is one of the last working fishing coves on the Dublin coast, with a granite pier, crab and lobster pots stacked along it and a sandy cove that dries out at low water so the boats sit on the flat sand.
The school is a stone's throw from the beach and close to Skerries Mills and Ardgillan Castle. It is a lovely place for a school. For many of our families it is a big part of why they chose us.
Hire our hall
Our school hall is available to hire for local groups and classes outside school hours.
The hall costs €35 an hour. A parent already runs fitness classes there and we would love to see more of the community using it. To ask about availability, ring the office on 01 849 0394 or email secretary@loughshinnyns.ie.