Ballymana National School
Craughwell, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 108 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 49 girls, 59 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 10675O the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballymana National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in the village of Ballymana, Craughwell, County Galway, directly adjacent to St Killian’s Church. The school provides a modern, innovative learning environment across five classrooms, each equipped with its own male and female facilities, a dedicated school office and two specialised learning‑support rooms. Recent upgrades include a freshly laid tarmacadam playground, reseeded sports fields and a newly constructed handball court, complemented by a customised playground created by the parents committee in 2009. The educational ethos combines a strong academic programme with a broad range of extra‑curricular activities designed to promote physical health, creativity and cultural awareness. Pupils can take part in traditional Irish sports such as hurling, camogie, football and handball, as well as enjoy Spanish language lessons, after‑school art classes and a breakfast club. The school also embraces the Green Flag environmental award, health‑promoting initiatives and Creative Schools projects, fostering an inclusive and supportive community for all learners.
History
Ballymana National School was established in 1872 with a single classroom; the original north‑end gable remains unchanged. The first principal was Patrick Ruane. A second classroom was added in 1931, separated by a folding partition and heated by an open fire, with pupils bringing a sod of turf each day. Further development occurred in 1993, followed by the addition of a third classroom in 2004 and a large fourth classroom in 2005. In 2008 the school was transformed into a modern five‑classroom facility with an office and two learning‑support rooms, each with separate male and female amenities. The playground received a fresh tarmac surface, fields were reseeded, and a handball court was built; in 2009 a customised playground was erected by the parents committee. The school remains situated beside St Killian’s Church in Ballymana, Craughwell, Co Galway.
Applying to Ballymana 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 Ballymana 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 Ballymana National School
How many pupils attend Ballymana National School?
Ballymana National School has 108 pupils enrolled, 49 girls and 59 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballymana National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballymana 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 Ballymana National School?
Ballymana National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.