About Monaghan Waldorf School
Welcome to Cygnet’s Nest Pre-School & Monaghan Waldorf School
An Alternative Pre-School and Primary School in County Monaghan
Cygnet’s Nest is a community pre-school and Monaghan Waldorf School is an alternative primary school in the heart of Monaghan, offering a thoughtful, creative, and unique educational experience that honors childhood and supports families in nurturing the whole child.
Founded by a group of parents who came together with a shared passion for Waldorf education - what began first as a playgroup in 2022 has grown into a vibrant kindergarten (pre-school) & primary school community at the Wetlands in Ballybay, County Monaghan.
As group, we ourselves continue to learn throughout this process, and we look forward to the future of our thriving Waldorf school in coming years. Now in our second academic year (2024/25), we have settled into our home in the Wetlands, an exceptionally beautiful and tranquil setting.
Waldorf education allows children the space and freedom to grow into the well-rounded adults they deserve to be. Our aim is always to create a love of learning that will last a lifetime and we do this by working with the natural phases a child will go through, rather than rushing them through a rigorous academic schedule. This means at every age, our students are able to explore developmentally-appropriate curriculum that offers ample opportunity to be creative through hands-on activities.
Monaghan Waldorf School Photo Gallery: Educational Adventures in Creative, Nature-Based Learning
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Now Enrolling for 2025/26: Pre-School & Primary School
We are delighted to be able to welcome new children to our school for the 2025/26 school year commencing in September. Enrolment forms can be downloaded below, and sent in to the school via email (info@monaghanwaldorfschool.ie) or posted to:
Monaghan Waldorf School, The Wetlands, Clones Road, Derryvally, Ballybay, Monaghan, Ireland, A75 HF78
Our kindergarten (pre-school) fees are €70 per week, which is covered by ECCE for eligible children. Where a child is not eligible for ECCE, the NCS will help towards the cost of the fees.
Please contact us for information on primary school fees.
Download Term Calendars, ECCE Fees & Kindergarten Handbook
Useful resources below include the calendar of term dates & festivals for both pre-school (kindergarten) & primary school, along with the ECCE sessional service fee table and calendar, along with the pre-school (kindergarten) parent handbook.
Our school at the Ballybay Wetlands, Co Monaghan
With gratitude to Conor Donelan for providing us with the footage.
Contact us
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Monaghan Waldorf School
The Wetlands, Clones Road, Derryvally, Ballybay, Monaghan, A75 HF78
Email: info@monaghanwaldorfschool.ie Whatsapp/text/call: +353879587116
Work Hours
Mon | 09:00 – 13:00 | |
Tue | 09:00 – 13:00 | |
Wed | 09:00 – 13:00 | |
Thu | 09:00 – 13:00 | |
Fri | 09:00 – 13:00 | |
Sat | Closed | |
Sun | Closed |
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at info@monaghanwaldorfschool.ie if you cannot find an answer to your question.
We are an independent, non-denominational Waldorf school located in Ballybay, County Monaghan. We offer a creative, child-centred alternative to mainstream education for children in preschool (kindergarten) and primary school.
We follow the principles of Waldorf education, which nurtures the whole child—head, heart, and hands. Our curriculum focuses on hands-on experiences, artistic expression, storytelling, and play-based learning, aligned with each child’s natural developmental stages.
Our school is based at the beautiful Ballybay Wetlands Centre in County Monaghan. The natural surroundings are deeply integrated into our learning approach, supporting outdoor play and seasonal rhythm.
Yes. Our preschool program is covered by the ECCE scheme for eligible children. For families not eligible for ECCE, the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) can help toward fees. Please contact us for information on primary school tuition.
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