Rathnew

Rathnew (Irish: Ráth Naoi, meaning "The Ring Fort of Naoi") is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. Located south of the capital Dublin along the M11 between Dublin and Wexford, it is the exit point for those wishing to visit the county town of Wicklow, situated 3 km (1.9 mi) to the east.

Education

Rathnew is home to Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin, Ireland's first inter-denominational primary school, established in 1996, and celebrating its 10th anniversary in the 2006-2007 school year. The school draws pupils from Rathdrum, Brittas and Newcastle, as well as Rathnew. It is situated temporarily in the village on part of a site that has been earmarked for a new co-educational national school.

Rathnew is home to three primary schools; St. Ernan's B.N.S., which was opened in 1965, and is due to be combined with St. Josephs G.N.S and Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin. St. Ernan's originally had only three classrooms but has been fitted with an extra two along with three prefabs to facilitate the growing number of students. St. Joseph's G.N.S. is a girls' primary school situated beside the local St. Joseph's Parish Church. There have been several plans to amalgamate the two schools and as of late the amalgamation plans seems to have taken a step closer to completion.