About
History
Nestled at the foot of the Three Rock Mountain in the townland of Woodside, St. Mary's Woodside National School, Lamb's Cross, Sandyford, has a long history. The first school was built in 1841 on the site of a small country hospital and was replaced by the existing iconic, granite-faced building with the green steeple in 1936. As the Sandyford/Stepaside area has grown from a sleepy backwater to a bustling mixture of industrial and residential buildings, the population of the school has grown. As a result, a two storey modern extension incorporating a new entrance and hallway was added in 2011. Throughout the years, St. Mary's has always aimed at having a child-centred approach and a friendly atmosphere and despite the trebling of our pupil numbers in less than ten years, we still take pride in maintaining this ethos. Many generations have attended our school and, as we move ahead in the twenty first century, we look forward to welcoming many more.
Our school stands proudly as the oldest Catholic school in Sandyford Parish and this Christian generosity of spirit serves us well as society in Ireland changes. The area the school serves has seen great changes in the profile of the population and this is reflected in our pupils. We have enrolled pupils from many countries and cultures around the world. This international intake has truly brought a great vibrancy to the life of the school community.
While academic studies are central to our children's education, the school also promotes a rounded approach. Our school choir takes part every second year in the National Children's Choir. Needless to say, the choir also sings at the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. We also nurture a long tradition in sporting activities, especially athletics in which we have enjoyed great success in the annual Santry Sports.
Our girls' football team made history in October 2016 by playing in their first Cumann na mBunscol final in Croke Park. On 22nd October 2018, our boys' senior football team came within a whisker of winning a final in Croke Park when they launched a stirring rally after being well behind against St. Patrick's Ringsend. They equalised with a few minutes to go but then lost out to a last minute goal. We are immensely proud of them. In 2018, the boys' soccer team reached the semi-final of the Dublin Interschools' League in their first year to enter the competition, and then surpassed this achievement in May 2019 by winning the FAI Dublin Schools Division 3 title in style with a great win over Monkstown ETNS in Wayside Celtic's ground in neighbouring Kilternan. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 they were unable to defend their title in 2020. The 2023 boys' soccer team are showing great promise and have won their first matches in the league and cup.
Please take the time to look through the rest of our website. If you would like to know more about our school, please feel free to make an appointment to come to the school.