The Virgin Mary School opened its doors in October 1969, with four teachers.  The first pupils had transferred from the three teacher school of Saint Pappins, which was the local school in the once rural area of Ballymun.  Many flats and houses were being built in East Ballymun in areas now known as Shangan and Coultry and the building of a large Girls’ and Boys’ school in a shared complex on Shangan Road was undertaken.  Later a church and presbytery were built so establishing the Virgin Mary Parish.  As the number of pupils in each school grew to over 800 an extension to the school was built.  Since then the number of pupils has declined so only one room for the B.E.S.T. Breakfast Club remain in use by the school in this extension. The second storey accommodation is used by the after school clubs – ‘Aishling’, and Paddy Haughey’s, ‘Plough’.

At present there are 124 pupils attending the school with a staff of ten, including 1.4 Learning Support teacher, 1 Resource teacher and Principal.  The school also shares with the Boys School the service of a Home/School/Community Links teacher.  The school receives this teaching support because of its DEIS Band 1 disadvantaged status.

The school has the support of a member of B.E.S.T. (Ballymun Educational Support Team) which is the local response to the Department of Education initiative around Early School Leavers.  Her focus is on those children from eight years who have been identified as potential school drop outs.  Working side by side with her is the School Attendance Officer who works part-time for two hours each day, to specifically monitor and follow-up on school attendance.