Independent, Boarding and Specialist Primary Schools

The majority of primary schools, international and specialist schools are day schools, but a small number do offer boarding facilities. Details of a number of these schools are given below, however if you require further information on different types of primary schools or primary schools in a specific location, please contact the Department of Education and Science.

There are four National (i.e. State-funded) schools which offer boarding facilities.

They can be contacted directly through the addresses listed below, or through the Department of Education and Science. Please note that the third and fourth schools listed offer all courses through the medium of the Irish Language and may not be suitable for children from an non-Irish speaking background.

Scoil Chlochair Mhuire (girls),
Carrigwohill, Co Cork 
 +353 21 488 3293

 Midleton College,
Cork, Co. Cork 
 +353 21 463 1146

Scoil Na Leanai 
Ring, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford 
+353 58 46128

 Scoil Na nOg
 Glanmire, Co. Cork
+353 21 48 21116

There are two independent primary schools which offer boarding facilities:

Aravon School is an Independent Preparatory School which was established in 1862. Aravon is co-educational and inter-denominational and is located in Bray, Co. Wicklow, just outside Dublin City.
Headfort is a Independent Preparatory School 60 kilometres north of Dublin City. The school is located on a large estate outside Kells in Co. Meath. Children are accepted from the ages of seven up to 13.

There are also a number of international and private, non-boarding primary schools with a tradition of welcoming students from overseas. In many instances these schools will arrange host family accommodation for students.

 St. Gerard's School 
Thornhill, Bray, Co. Wicklow 
 +353 1 282 1822

Dublin Rudolf Steiner School 
47 Rathmines Road,Dublin 6 
 +353 1 496 0525

Embassy School (AMI-Montessori) 
5 Clyde Road, Dublin 4 
 +353 1 660 3176

French School:
Lycee Francais D'Irlande Roebuck Road, Dublin 14 
 +353 1 288 4834

 St. Kilian's Deutsche Schule Dublin
 Roebuck Road, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14
 +353 1 288 3323

Islamic School, 
The Muslim National School 19 Roebuck Road, Dublin 14
  +353 1 296 1340

Japanese School: 
Sundai Ireland International School  Curragh Grange Green Road, Curragh 
 +353 45 441 888

Spanish School: 
Elian's Spanish School Jublilee Hall, Ballyman Road,Bray
 +353 1 282 1230

For a full list of primary schools using the Montessori method please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more detailed information and full school listings contact:

Department of Education and Skills

Marlborough Street,
Dublin 1,
Tel:+353-1-8734700
Fax:+353-1-8786712 Web: www.education.ie