Our School/About
Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School
Ballisk Common off Portrane Road
Donabate, Co Dublin.
Tel: 01-843-4573
Fax: 01-843-4591
Mob: 086-833-7468
Donabate/Portrane Educate Together National School first opened its doors on September 1st 2002. However the story of the school dates back about two years before that date when Esther Smyth put a notice up in Super Valu asking if anyone was interested in setting up an Educate Together school in the area. A group of interested parents got together and started to work on getting the school sanctioned. Our school was started by parents and the support of parents has remained a central part of our foundation.
When we opened in 2002 there were 31 pupils and two teachers in the school. Today there are 416 pupils and a staff of 34 (22 teachers, 8 Special Needs Assistants, 2 caretakers, 2 secretaries and 1 school assistant). Our phenomenal growth has been because of the hard work of parents, pupils and staff to make this school what it is today.
In the initial two years we relied on the support of two community groups to give us a home. For the first year we were located in the Sea Scout Den on Portrane Road and we will always be grateful to the Sea Scouts for allowing us to invade their territory. Without them this story may never have happened.
In September 2003 we had grown too big for the Scout Den as we now had 68 pupils and Turvey Golf Club came to the rescue. We received a wonderful welcome in Turvey Golf Club and spent 5 happy months there.
On February 1st 2004 we moved to our current site on Ballisk Common into purpose built classrooms on a site leased to us from Fingal County Council. We were absolutely delighted to arrive at Ballisk back into the centre of the community. Since then our numbers have gone from strength to strength.
Recently we have had confirmation from the Department of Education and Science that wand look forward to hearing news of a permanent building very soon.
In the meantime, while not ideal, we are happy with our accommodation here at Ballisk Common and are grateful to Fingal County Council for providing us with the site. The current accommodation has its limitations especially in terms of PE facilities, library etc. Our neighbours at DPCC have been very helpful and accommodating and we use their facilities regularly for PE lessons, large assemblies, coffee mornings etc.
No history of the school would be complete without mentioning Karen Hyland who was the first teacher appointed in the school. Karen was with us from 2002 until 2005 and anyone who met her will remember her wonderful energy and enthusiasm. Karen decided to take a break from teaching when she had her first baby. Karen played a huge role in putting our school on the map and dedicated three years of her life to getting our school up and running.
HUGE credit must also be given to Maeve Corish, whose tireless enthusiasm for the children of DPETNS shows no abounds since she took up the post in the summer of 2002.
School Location
By Road
Finding us can sometimes be difficult, as it is easy to miss the turn-off just past the Credit Union.
- Head into Donabate over the railway bridge
- Bear left after the Post Office
- Carry on down Main St, passing the Church on your right and Super Valu on your left
- Bear right down the Portrane Road
- Turn next left (after the Credit Union)
- You will find us on the left at the round-about
Please note it is both illegal and dangerous to park at the roundabout. Donabate Portrane Community Club (just turn right at the roundabout and go through the blue gates at the end of the road) have kindly given us the use of their car park. It is only a short walk from there to the school.
By Rail
Donabate is on the Dublin to Dundalk train line. Click here to view the timetable. Just get off the train at Donabate and follow the directions above.
By Bus
The number 33b bus serves (Dublin Bus – Timetable) the school and runs between Portrane and Swords, just get off at the Credit union and walk around the corner.
This history should also include the name and work of its principal, Maeve Corish, whose tireless enthusiasm for the children of DPETNS shows no abounds since she took up the post in the summer of 2002.