Ballinagar National School
Tullamore, Offaly
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 193 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 79 girls, 114 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17637S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballinagar National School is a Catholic, co‑educational primary school located about 11 km north of Tullamore in County Offaly. The school provides a well‑ordered, caring and secure environment that seeks to develop each child’s intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural potential. A strong emphasis is placed on nurturing pupils’ voices and talents, encouraging confidence, creativity and community spirit so that they become caring members of society. The school operates from a purpose‑built campus opened in June 2013, which includes modern classrooms, specialist ancillary rooms, a school garden and a mini‑forest that support the Green Flag programme. Facilities also cater for a range of extracurricular activities and the school community – pupils, parents, staff and the board of management – works together to maintain a positive atmosphere where every child feels valued and respected. With a current roll of around 192 pupils and a staff of twelve teachers, the school offers a supportive, child‑centred approach to primary education.
History
The original schoolhouse was situated in the grounds of the local church. A new two‑teacher school was built in 1949, with the parish‑owned principal’s residence opposite. In 1992 the building was refurbished, adding a classroom and two ancillary rooms, and enrolment began to rise alongside village housing development. A further new school was constructed on an adjacent site and officially opened on 7 June 2013, featuring a Green Flag garden, mini‑forest and a “percent art” project. Enrolment grew from 78 pupils in 1990 to 192 in 2024, with staff numbers increasing from two teachers to twelve.
Applying to Ballinagar National 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 Ballinagar National 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 Ballinagar National School
How many pupils attend Ballinagar National School?
Ballinagar National School has 193 pupils enrolled, 79 girls and 114 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballinagar National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballinagar National 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 Ballinagar National School?
Ballinagar National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.