Gilson National School
Church Street, Oldcastle, Co. Meath · A82 E400 · Roll number 12488C
Gilson National School is the only one of the primary schools in or within 3 km of Oldcastle. Every school in and around Oldcastle →
What stands out about Gilson National School
- 222 pupils, near the middle for primary schools in Ireland (the median is 131).
- Teaches through English, with Irish as a subject.
- Smaller than it was: 222 pupils, 17% fewer than the 267 of 2019/20.
- In DEIS. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) gives schools serving disadvantaged areas more teachers, money and support; the Department decides which schools are in it.
- Its patron is the Bishop of Meath; its ethos is Catholic.
- The only primary school in Oldcastle or within 3 km of it.
Pupils over time
2015/16 to 2025/26Gilson National School had 222 pupils in 2025/26, down from 283 in 2015/16 (−22%). Girls are 48% of them. Its largest roll was 284, in 2016/17. Its roll rose in 2 of the 10 years.
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year; girls and boys where the lists give them.
No letter for Gilson National School
Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing schools by them, so this school has no letter and nothing here ranks it. Its facts are the Department of Education’s; its inspection reports are linked below.
What the Department of Education does publish for Gilson National School is on this page: its pupils each September since 2015/16, girls and boys, its patron and ethos, whether it teaches through Irish, whether it is in DEIS, and its inspection reports.
Newspapers print lists of how many of a school’s leavers go on to college. Those count destinations, not exam results, and depend on who a school takes in; we don’t use them.
Inspection reports on Gilson National School
The Department of Education’s Inspectorate visits schools and publishes its reports. The reports describe what inspectors saw; they give no overall grade, and we don’t make one. Reports for this school on gov.ie ↗
Inspectors visit every kind of school. Whole-school evaluations look at teaching and learning, leadership and management; subject inspections look at one subject; follow-through inspections check whether earlier advice was taken. Each report is published on gov.ie with the school’s response.
Getting a place at Gilson National School
Every school admits under its own published admission policy; no admissions numbers are published.
Families apply to Gilson National School directly. Children can start once they are four and must be in school by six; the school’s yearly admission notice gives the dates for applying and for its decisions.
A school with more applicants than places admits on the criteria in its admission policy, often brothers and sisters, the area it serves and, for post-primary schools, its feeder primaries. A family refused a place can appeal.
It is in DEIS, so it has extra support for pupils from disadvantaged areas.
No figures on applications are published, but the roll shows demand: Gilson National School has shrunk by 17% since 2019/20. All the schools around Oldcastle together changed by −1%.
Pupils since 2019/20
Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; Department of Education enrolments 2019/20 and 2025/26 (preliminary).
Side by side with the nearest primary schools
2025/26The nearest schools of the same kind, as the crow flies: their pupils, ethos and language. No results: none are published.
Gilson National School has more pupils than any of the 6 nearest primary schools. Since 2019/20 its roll has changed by −17%; 4 of the 6 grew faster.
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilson National School | 222 | −17% | Catholic | English | ✓ | |
| S.N. Fiach | 102 | +34% | Catholic | English | 4.8 km | |
| Scoil Mhuire N.S. | 94 | +19% | Catholic | English | 5.7 km | |
| Castlerahan Central N.S. | 96 | −31% | Catholic | English | 5.9 km | |
| Cnoc an Teampaill | 158 | +19% | Catholic | English | 6 km | |
| Scoil Bhride | 94 | +0% | Catholic | English | 8.1 km | |
| S.N. Carraig A Bruis | 103 | −31% | Catholic | English | 9 km |
The other 110 primary schools in Co. Meath
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinlough N.S. | 58 | −25% | Catholic | English | 9.5 km | |
| Carnaross N.S. | 178 | +0% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| Kilskyre Mixed N.S. | 87 | −1% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| Drumbarragh N.S. | 83 | −13% | Catholic | English | 15 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 122 | −11% | Catholic | English | 17 km | |
| Scoil Nais Naomh Aine | 12 | −52% | Catholic | English | 18 km | |
| Ughtyneill N.S. | 31 | +7% | Catholic | English | 19 km | |
| Scoil Cholmcille | 352 | −5% | Catholic | English | 20 km | |
| Our Lady of Mercy N.S. | 313 | −3% | Catholic | English | 20 km | |
| Kells Parochial N.S. | 52 | −30% | Church of Ireland | English | 20 km | |
| S.N. Muire | 165 | +16% | Catholic | English | 21 km | |
| S.N. Bhrighde | 111 | +9% | Catholic | English | 22 km | |
| O'Growney National School | 382 | +7% | Catholic | English | 23 km | |
| Kilbeg N.S. | 85 | −1% | Catholic | English | 23 km | |
| S.N. an Rath Mhor | 45 | −46% | Catholic | English | 24 km | |
| Kilmainham Wood N.S. | 118 | −1% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 25 km |
| S.N. Caitriona Naofa | 149 | +7% | Catholic | English | 25 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 15 | −40% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 26 km |
| Scoil Uí Ghramhnaigh | 169 | −18% | Catholic | All in Irish | 26 km | |
| St. Dympna's National School | 210 | −5% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| Bohermeen N.S. | 237 | −5% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| Scoil Eoin Báiste | 123 | +21% | Catholic | English | 28 km | |
| S.N. Ultain Naofa | 80 | −11% | Catholic | All in Irish | 28 km | |
| Carrickleck N.S. | 26 | −26% | Catholic | English | 28 km | |
| S.N. Columbain | 233 | −37% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 29 km |
| Castletown N.S. | 102 | −6% | Catholic | English | 29 km | |
| S.N. Cill Bhrighde | 200 | +45% | Catholic | English | 30 km | |
| Scoil Naomh Barra | 238 | +14% | Catholic | English | 30 km | |
| S.N. Nmh Sheosamh | 136 | −7% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| S.N. Seosamh Naomtha | 100 | −15% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| S.N. Bhrighde | 91 | +3% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| Scoil Naomh Eoin | 375 | +6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 32 km |
| Navan Educate Together NS | 213 | −5% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 33 km |
| Killyon N.S. | 60 | −34% | Catholic | English | 33 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 205 | +16% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 33 km |
| St Pauls N.S. | 761 | +4% | Catholic | English | 33 km | |
| St Patricks N.S. | 48 | −19% | Church of Ireland | English | 34 km | |
| Mercy Convent N.S. | 385 | −13% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 34 km |
| St Oliver Plunkett N.S. | 399 | −10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 34 km |
| Aine Naofa N.S. | 312 | −2% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 34 km |
| Flowerfield N.S. | 40 | −11% | Church of Ireland | English | 34 km | |
| S.N. Pheadair agus Phoil | 125 | −7% | Catholic | English | 34 km | |
| Scoil Naomh Bride | 181 | −9% | Catholic | English | 34 km | |
| St Marys Convent N.S. | 521 | −10% | Catholic | English | 34 km | |
| Scoil Mhichil na Buachailli | 294 | −7% | Catholic | English | 34 km | |
| Gaelscoil Eanna | 138 | −32% | Catholic | All in Irish | 34 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 194 | +5% | Catholic | English | 34 km | |
| Trim Educate Together National School | 174 | +72% | Multi-denominational | English | 35 km | |
| Gaelscoil na Boinne | 206 | −9% | Catholic | All in Irish | 35 km | |
| Ard Rí Community National School | 384 | +48% | Multi-denominational | English | 35 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 84 | +6% | Catholic | English | 35 km | |
| Stackallen N.S. | 170 | −11% | Catholic | English | 36 km | |
| Scoil Bhríde | 392 | −2% | Catholic | English | 36 km | |
| Scoil Nais Finin Naofa | 63 | −2% | Catholic | English | 36 km | |
| St Stephens N.S. | 805 | −13% | Catholic | English | 36 km | |
| Newtown N.S. | 60 | −28% | Catholic | English | 37 km | |
| S.N. Mhichil Naofa | 73 | −15% | Catholic | English | 38 km | |
| St. Nicholas Primary School | 299 | −24% | Catholic | English | 39 km | |
| Kilmessan Mxd N.S. | 242 | +3% | Catholic | English | 40 km | |
| Scoil Nais Aitinn Bhui | 211 | −7% | Catholic | English | 40 km | |
| S N na Trionoide Naofa | 233 | −25% | Catholic | English | 41 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Padraig | 254 | −9% | Catholic | English | 41 km | |
| Dangan Mixed N.S. | 228 | +12% | Catholic | English | 41 km | |
| Scoil Nais Mhuire Naofa | 113 | +2% | Catholic | English | 42 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Padraig | 148 | −10% | Catholic | English | 43 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Seosamh | 95 | +12% | Catholic | English | 44 km | |
| S.N. Baile Cheant | 214 | −15% | Catholic | English | 44 km | |
| Scoil Naomh Pio | 59 | −13% | Catholic | English | 45 km | |
| St. Mary's Primary School | 543 | −10% | Catholic | English | 45 km | |
| S.N. Colmcille | 211 | +2% | Catholic | English | 45 km | |
| Coole N.s, | 164 | +8% | Catholic | English | 45 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 139 | +6% | Catholic | English | 45 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire Naofa | 81 | −19% | Catholic | English | 48 km | |
| S.N. Cul an Mhuilinn | 119 | +16% | Catholic | English | 48 km | |
| Dunshaughlin Community National School | 168 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 49 km | |
| Scoil na Rithe | 222 | −2% | Catholic | All in Irish | 49 km | |
| S.N. Dun Uabhair | 166 | −22% | Catholic | English | 49 km | |
| S.N. Seachnaill Naofa | 622 | +13% | Catholic | English | 50 km | |
| S.N. Bheinn Naofa B | 339 | −10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 50 km |
| S.N. Bheinin Naofa C | 343 | −0% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 50 km |
| St. Joseph's National School | 89 | +3% | Catholic | English | 51 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Cianain | 73 | −13% | Catholic | English | 52 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Colmcille | 109 | +5% | Catholic | English | 53 km | |
| S.N. Rath Riagain | 92 | −10% | Catholic | English | 53 km | |
| S.N. Padraig Naofa | 137 | +6% | Catholic | English | 54 km | |
| S.N. Aindreis Naofa | 107 | −5% | Catholic | English | 54 km | |
| Scoil Oilibheir Naofa | 225 | +1% | Catholic | English | 54 km | |
| S.N. Rath Beagain | 219 | +16% | Catholic | English | 54 km | |
| Ratoath Junior N.S. | 213 | −44% | Catholic | English | 54 km | |
| Ratoath Senior N.S. | 319 | −36% | Catholic | English | 54 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Treasa | 105 | +7% | Catholic | English | 55 km | |
| St Pauls N.S. | 565 | −15% | Catholic | English | 55 km | |
| Gaelscoil an Bhradáin Feasa | 383 | −12% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 57 km | |
| Gaelscoil na Mí | 242 | −26% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 57 km | |
| Ashbourne Educate Together National School | 410 | −14% | Multi-denominational | English | 57 km | |
| Ashbourne Community National School | 342 | +280% | Multi-denominational | English | 57 km | |
| Scoil Mhuire | 479 | −3% | Catholic | English | 57 km | |
| Scoil Nais Deaglain | 621 | −8% | Catholic | English | 58 km | |
| S N Realt na Mara (C) | 373 | −19% | Catholic | English | 58 km | |
| S N Realt na Mara (B) | 373 | −18% | Catholic | English | 58 km | |
| Gaelscoil na Cille | 227 | −2% | Catholic | All in Irish | 59 km | |
| S.N. Cros Ban | 373 | −9% | Catholic | English | 59 km | |
| Dunboyne Junior N.S. | 397 | −18% | Catholic | English | 60 km | |
| Dunboyne Senior N.S. | 470 | −17% | Catholic | English | 60 km | |
| St Peters National School | 97 | +29% | Church of Ireland | English | 60 km | |
| Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg | 360 | +7% | Inter-denominational | All in Irish | 60 km | |
| Scoil Oilibheir Naofa | 397 | −5% | Catholic | English | 61 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Padraig | 524 | −19% | Catholic | English | 61 km | |
| Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh | 438 | −8% | Catholic | English | 61 km | |
| Kilbride National School | 310 | −7% | Catholic | English | 62 km |
Living in Oldcastle
The town’s figures, not this street’s.
Homes in the A82 Eircode area
Housing in Oldcastle →The median sale price rose from €240,000 in 2023 to €310,000 in 2025 (+29%).
New against second-hand, 2023 to 2025
Property Price Register sales in the A82 Eircode routing area, 2023 to 2025.
Renting in Co. Meath
Cost of living in Oldcastle →New tenancies in Co. Meath averaged €1,542 a month in 2025, against €1,434 in 2024 (+8%).
Residential Tenancies Board rent index, new tenancies, 2024 and 2025.
Location
Directions ↗Oldcastle, A82 E400
Primary schools near Gilson National School
Nearest first, as the crow flies, up to 25 km. Each school’s own admission policy decides who gets a place.
Questions about Gilson National School
Is Gilson National School a good school?
We don’t grade it: Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them. Its inspection reports on gov.ie, a visit and a talk with the principal will tell you more than any table could.
How many pupils does Gilson National School have?
222 pupils in 2025/26. That is −17% since 2019/20.
Does Gilson National School teach through Irish?
No: Gilson National School teaches in English, with Irish as a subject.
Who runs Gilson National School?
Gilson National School has a Catholic ethos. Its patron is Bishop of Meath.
How do pupils get a place at Gilson National School?
Apply to the school directly. It publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice with its dates; if more children apply than it has places, it admits on the criteria in its policy.
Which schools of the same kind are near Gilson National School?
The nearest are S.N. Fiach (4.8 km), Scoil Mhuire N.S. (5.7 km) and Castlerahan Central N.S. (5.9 km).
Sources: Department of Education, school lists 2025/26 (preliminary) and enrolments since 2015/16, CC BY 4.0 · inspection reports on gov.ie, linked by roll number. Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Facts from the Department of Education’s school lists. Listed with Oldcastle; nothing here rates the school.
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).