Ballinamore Community School
Leitrim
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 336 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 180 girls, 156 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 91519H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballinamore Community School is a co‑educational community school serving the town of Ballinamore and its surrounding rural area. It delivers a broad, relevant curriculum that blends academic and vocational pathways, aiming to develop students’ personal, academic, sporting, cultural and spiritual dimensions. The school’s ethos stresses the acquisition of learning and life‑skills that prepare pupils for adult and professional life, while fostering a Christian and civic sense of responsibility. The campus incorporates modern facilities built under the Public‑Private Partnership scheme, including a purpose‑built single‑site building completed in 2012, a well‑equipped science block, extensive playing fields, basketball courts and a sports complex opened by the Taoiseach in 2000. A wide range of extra‑curricular programmes complement classroom learning, offering students opportunities to engage in sport, arts, and community projects, thereby enriching the overall school experience.
History
The origins of education in Ballinamore date back to 1871 with the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy and the opening of a classical school. In 1941 a technical school was established, later moving to St Brigid’s Street. Meanscoil Fatima was founded in 1952 and St Felim’s College opened in 1962. A pioneering common‑enrolment system began in 1968, sharing resources among the three schools. In 1994 Meanscoil Fatima and St Felim’s College amalgamated to form Fatima & Felim’s Secondary School, and in 2001 the Minister for Education announced the creation of a community school through the merger of the vocational and secondary schools. The new single‑site Ballinamore Community School was included in a PPP building programme in 2008 and was completed in December 2012.
Applying to Ballinamore Community 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 post-primary school dates apply broadly to Ballinamore Community 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: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (primary schools: Thu 18 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 Ballinamore Community School
How many pupils attend Ballinamore Community School?
Ballinamore Community School has 336 pupils enrolled, 180 girls and 156 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Ballinamore Community School a DEIS school?
No. Ballinamore Community 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 Ballinamore Community School?
Ballinamore Community School has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.