Who We Are:
Monkland National School is a warm, community-centred, co-educational primary school located in the beautiful Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, catering for children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. We have six mainstream classes and two Autism Spectrum (AS) classes, supported by a dedicated team that includes six mainstream class teachers, two AS class teachers, three special education teachers (SET), eleven additional needs assistants (ANAs), a school secretary, a caretaker and an administrative principal. Together, we provide an inclusive, nurturing, and engaging learning environment where every child is valued and supported to reach their full potential.
History of Monkland National School:
Monksland National School has a long and proud heritage of serving children and families in Cooley, Co. Louth. The origins of the school in the Monksland area go back to 1840s, when Parish Priest, Rev. Edward Holland, petitioned the National Board for permission to build a school and this was followed with a request for funds. His hard work paid off. Funds were made available and the original school, which was located in Grange, opened in October, 1842. It served the people of the area for 120 years before the new school was built just half a mile down the road, opening in 1960.
As the decades passed, the school continued to evolve. 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of the present school building. The school had 4 teachers and an enrolment on less than 90 pupils at that time.
In the subsequent years, the school’s enrolment grew steadily and with changing educational needs, plans for expansion were put in place. In 2015 the school community celebrated the completion of a new extension. This extension provided a new entrance, additional classrooms, a modernised office and updated facilities to serve a growing, vibrant school community.
2023 brought further expansion of the school with the addition of two AS classes, sensory rooms and a new soft play yard. Today, the school has 139 children on the roll and a staff of 30 people, between teachers, ANAs, ancillary staff and bus escorts.
Monksland N.S. Principals:
Since 1960
Mr. George Lowe (1960-1961)
Mr. Dermot Keelan (1961 – 1975)
Mr. Micheál Dineen (1975 – 2002)
Mr. Peter McCaul (2003 – 2009)
Mr. John Farrell (2009 – 2020)
Ms. Síle Murnaghan (2020 – Present)
Board of Management
2023-2027:
Chairperson – Fr. Malachy Conlon
Secretary – Mr. Darragh Smith (Acting Principal)
Treasurer – Ms. Paula Dowdall
Staff Representative – Ms. Valerie Feehan
Patron Representative – Mr. Paul Rogan
Patron Representative – Mrs. Anne Carr
Parent Representative – Mr. Feargal Cunningham
Parent Representative – Mrs. Deirdre McGrath
Parent’s Association
2025/2026:
Chairperson – Beverley O’Reilly
Vice-Chairperson – Sheila McKevitt
Secretary – Grainne Murnaghan
Assistant Secretary – Sarah Dullaghan
Treasurer – Amy Martin
Assistant Treasurer – Lorraine Savage
All parents are welcome to attend meetings and get involved.
The Monksland N.S. Parents’ Association can be contacted via email on pa@monkslandschool.com.
