Ballintotas National School
Castlemartyr, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 100 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 50 girls, 50 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15165Q the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballintotas National School is a Roman Catholic primary school that seeks to promote the full and harmonious development of each pupil – intellectually, physically, culturally, morally and spiritually. The school’s ethos is rooted in a belief in God and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and religious education is delivered in line with the doctrines and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. This spiritual foundation underpins a broader educational philosophy that values a living relationship with God, with others and with the wider community. The school actively embraces the Creative Schools initiative, using a Department of Education grant to place arts and creativity at the heart of the curriculum. A wide range of extracurricular activities enriches pupil experience, including STEM workshops with Bricks 4 Kidz, hurling and soccer competitions, World Book Day celebrations, and community events such as Grandparents Day and Friendship Month. Modern facilities comprise the historic 1898 schoolhouse, additional prefabricated classrooms, a library/kitchen space, upgraded classrooms with new furniture, electricity, water, flush toilets, and a half‑acre playing field, providing a supportive environment for both academic learning and creative play.
History
The present schoolhouse dates from 1898, replacing an earlier thatched building near the castle that was described in an 1892 inspector’s report as a “wretched hovel”. The site was acquired from Mr Edmond Ahern and Lord Midleton, with £283 from the Board of Works for construction. Originally a two‑classroom building, a third classroom was added in the 1920s to accommodate over 100 pupils, costing £745. A decline in enrolment in the 1940s reduced the school back to two rooms in 1949. Electricity was installed in 1957 and a water supply with flush toilets in 1960. In 1982 the school received new floorboards, carpets and modern desks. A half‑acre playing field was purchased in 1993. The 1995 refurbishment repurposed the old classroom as toilets, storeroom and a kitchen‑library, replaced the 100‑year roof and removed the chimney. A prefabricated structure was erected in 1998 alongside the appointment of a third teacher, coinciding with the school’s centenary celebrations. A larger prefabricated building was added in 2002 to meet growing pupil numbers.
Applying to Ballintotas 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 Ballintotas 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 Ballintotas National School
How many pupils attend Ballintotas National School?
Ballintotas National School has 100 pupils enrolled, 50 girls and 50 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballintotas National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballintotas 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 Ballintotas National School?
Ballintotas National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.