Welcome to St. Aidan’s National School, Bawnboy, Co. Cavan
As we begin the 2025/26 school year, we are delighted to welcome Ms. Quirke to our staff. We are also thrilled to have ten wonderful Junior Infants starting their journey with us, bringing our enrolment to 78 pupils.
St. Aidan’s is a school where every person is a valued member of a happy, vibrant learning community. Tá gach dalta, tuismitheoir agus múinteoir lárnach i bpobal foghlama bríomhar agus cairdiúil anseo i Scoil Náisiúnta Aodáin.
In St. Aidan’s, we aim to provide a well-structured, caring and positive learning environment with plenty of fun and adventure along the way. Our highly dedicated and creative staff work hard to foster the holistic development of our pupils, supporting them to grow in confidence, curiosity and kindness.
We are hugely supported by our parent body, who constantly work in partnership with us, and our website highlights the many events and activities taking place across the school year.
I would like to wish each of our students the very best for the year ahead. There will inevitably be challenges, but with the right support we hope every child will flourish and enjoy a happy, successful school year.
Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as ár suíomh gréasáin agus go bhfeicfidh sibh bríomhar, dearfach agus spraíúil scoil anseo i mBunbhó.
Le gach dea-ghuí,
James Rudden
Principal
Child Safeguarding
The Board of Management’s annual review of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement and Child Protection procedures took place at the Board of Management meeting on 7th September 2026.
Our Child Safeguarding Statement can be found here under Policies.
The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is James Rudden and the Deputy Designated Liaison Person (DDLP) is Juliana Doherty.
As we begin another exciting school year at St. Aidan’s N.S., we would like to once again celebrate the official opening of our wonderful new school playground at the end of the last school year.
Our school community raised an incredible €20,817 towards the project. A few months on, we remain extremely grateful to everyone who donated, fundraised or supported the project in any way. Our sincere thanks to our pupils, parents, Board of Management, Parents’ Association, staff, local businesses, sponsors, volunteers and the wider community. Your generosity has created a lasting legacy for the children of St. Aidan’s.
A special thank you also to Mary Fitzpatrick for officially opening the playground, Gareth Maguire for joining us as our special guest and Fr. Seán Maguire for blessing the new playground.
We were delighted to have the occasion featured in The Anglo-Celt, with a wonderful article written by our past pupil Róisín McManus. We are also extremely grateful to Isabel Duggan Rofe for capturing the day so beautifully through her photographs.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this fantastic new facility possible for our pupils.
On Tuesday 15th December the pupils of St. Aidan’s N.S. performed their Christmas plays in Templeport Community Centre.
Mrs Doherty’s Class loved their acting debut when they performed ‘Our First Nativity’ in song, dance and all told in rhyme.
‘There was no stage fright on the night
As the pupils performed with sheer delight!’
A lot of proud parents were spotted in the audience!
It was Mrs Boyle’s Class next as they performed the ‘Xmas Factor’. There were Shepherds from Glan, Angels from Kilsob, Innkeepers from ‘The Keepers’ Arms’, a Templeport Football Star and Kings from Swad and Ballyconnell all anxious to win the Xmas Factor. A special guest appearance from Bruno Tonioli added a few laughs.
Our final play ‘Baboushka’ was performed by Mrs Maguire’s Class. It was based on a Russian Folktale in which Baboushka is too busy to go in search of the Baby Jesus. She finally follows the kings and finds the real meaning of Christmas when she discovers the Baby Jesus in a stable.
Our Christmas Concert was a hugely successful evening. A special thank you to our parents for the wonderful costumes and donated prizes, to Gary for the sound system, Rory Houlihan for recording the plays, Ann Smith and John Rudden for organising the hall, Peter and Martha McKiernan and the TY students from St. Mogue’s for our wonderful props and of course to the pupils for their energy and confidence.
Enjoy the slide show of photos below taken by Isabel!
Nollaig Shona Daoibh!
Thanks to fireman David Rodgers from Ballyconnell Fire Station who visited this morning to give the children in 2nd and 3rd Class a talk about fire safety in the home. Each child received a ‘Safety Team’ pack with lots of games and activities as well as a home checklist for fire protection.
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As part of the Cheerios Childline Breakfast Together Week 2015, our pupils took part in a breakfast morning today. All classes enjoyed the novelty of eating breakfast at school while at the same time raising funds for Childline. We raised €120 in total. Thanks to everyone for contributing to this great cause.
Pupils in 4th, 5th and 6th Class have a go at drawing a portrait of themselves. Will we recognise the pupils when we see the finished work?
We had a special ceremony in our school today during which Sergeant Dave McCarney, Irish Defence Forces, presented to us our National Flag as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. A copy of the 1916 Proclamation was also given to the school.
He spoke to the pupils about how the flag should be cared for and the protocol that surrounds this vibrant symbol of our nation. Pupils were then given the chance to ask questions and the ceremony concluded with the pupils singing National Anthem song, Amhrán na bhFiann.
We look forward to learning a lot more about 1916 in the centenary year. All schools will raise their flag next 15th March 2016.
Children in 1st – 6th Class are participating in Hurling Classes each Thursday until Halloween. Their new coach, Keith, practices skills and techniques with the pupils who are thoroughly enjoying the classes.
The children in 1st, 2nd and 3rd Class have been researching their own family tree and were delighted when Finn and Joey’s Granny came in to talk to them about her family history. We were amazed to hear that Granny Joan is related to President J F Kennedy! Thank you Joan!
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Congratulations to Kevin Cassidy, 3rd Class, who received an award at the National Student Poetry Competition for his wonderful poem entitled ‘Snow’. It was a huge honour for the school when Kevin was presented with his award by Heather Humphreys, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
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Congratulations to Catriona Griffin, 5th Class, who was the overall winner of the recent Fleadh Cheoil Art Competition.
Catriona’s picture featured on the front cover of the Fleadh Programme Book which was available to buy during the Fleadh Weekend in Swanlinbar, 29th May to 1st June.
Well done also to Fintan Cassidy, 1st Class and Shanna Langan, Junior Infants whose pictures appeared inside the book!
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The pupils in Sixth Class have just completed a drugs and alcohol awareness programme called Streetwise 4 Life. The aim of the programme is to encourage young people to make healthy decisions.
Pupils took part in games, storytelling and discussion and were encouraged to take an active role in the learning process. Pupils found the programme very informative and worthwhile.
This programme will be continued in first year in secondary school.
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