Ballinalee National School
Longford
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 145 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 70 girls, 75 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17561L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Samhthann Primary School, situated in the rural village of Ballinalee, County Longford, is a co‑educational national school catering for children from Junior Infants through to 6th class. The school provides a mainstream curriculum alongside a specialised class dedicated to supporting pupils with autism, ensuring an inclusive learning environment for all students. Emphasis is placed on creating a welcoming, caring and nurturing atmosphere where safety and wellbeing are paramount, allowing children to thrive academically and socially. The school’s educational philosophy is holistic, encouraging a positive approach to learning that balances academic rigour with the development of personal and interpersonal skills. Pupils are encouraged to explore their interests, develop a love of learning and build confidence through a variety of classroom activities and extracurricular opportunities. Facilities are designed to support this ethos, offering modern classrooms, dedicated spaces for specialised support and resources that facilitate both individual and collaborative learning experiences.
Applying to Ballinalee 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
View Ballinalee National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Ballinalee National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Ballinalee National School
How many pupils attend Ballinalee National School?
Ballinalee National School has 145 pupils enrolled, 70 girls and 75 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballinalee National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballinalee 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 Ballinalee National School?
Ballinalee National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.