Our school opened in 1932. It was built to cater for the children who came to live in the new houses built in the area. The houses were built on the fields that stretched from Carncloch House to the Halfway House, and from the canal to Inchicore Road. "In all this area there were no roads or pathways except for the towpath along the canal.

The location of the schools could not be settled until the roads were planned." The local priest, Father Deasy, said "Hundreds of boys and girls are going about the roads and missing their schooling in the most important years of their youth."

Two new schools were needed, one in Rialto and one in Dolphin’s Barn. The school in Rialto was to take the boys and the one on Crumlin Road was to take the girls. The Loreto Sisters gave the site for the school. The senior girls were taught in the classes on the second floor and the junior children were on the first floor. The teachers from the old National School in the Barn taught the Juniors and the Loreto Sisters taught the Senior pupils.

The building that was the old Dolphin’s Barn National School is the one beside Lowe’s pub. It is used as office buildings now.

Loreto Primary School
Crumlin Road
Dublin 12
Tel: 01 454 1669, Fax: 01 454 1669, Email: isp.ias@tinet.ie