Athenry Primary School
Athenry, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 501 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 265 girls, 236 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20582N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Athenry Primary School is a vibrant, inclusive and caring community that strives to nurture every child’s academic, social and personal development. The school builds on a long‑standing tradition of education that began with Scoil Chroí Naofa and Athenry Boys School, and it now offers a high standard of teaching supported by a broad range of extra‑curricular activities, including music, sport and wellbeing programmes. Partnerships with parents are central to the school’s ethos, ensuring that learning is collaborative and that each pupil is encouraged to reach their full potential. The campus is undergoing a major development with a new 24‑classroom building that will provide modern, flexible learning spaces for current and future generations. State‑of‑the‑art facilities enable interactive teaching, while dedicated areas for creative arts, band practice and physical education enrich the curriculum. A focus on holistic education, underpinned by the school’s vision and mission statements, creates an environment where children feel safe, valued and motivated to explore their interests.
History
The school’s roots lie in the historic institutions of Scoil Chroí Naofa and Athenry Boys School, whose combined legacy forms the foundation of Athenry Primary School’s educational tradition. This heritage continues to shape the school’s commitment to high‑quality teaching and community involvement.
Applying to Athenry Primary School
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Athenry Primary School. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about Athenry Primary School
How many pupils attend Athenry Primary School?
Athenry Primary School has 501 pupils enrolled, 265 girls and 236 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Athenry Primary School a DEIS school?
No. Athenry Primary School is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of Athenry Primary School?
Athenry Primary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.