Ballyvary Central National School
CASTLEBAR, Mayo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 223 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 108 girls, 115 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19402B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballyvary Central National School is a vibrant primary school located just 1 km from Ballyvary village on a generous, well‑maintained site. The campus is designed to support both academic learning and active play, featuring a large front playground, a rear playground, a dedicated junior playground, and a series of sports pitches. At the rear of the school pupils have access to a full‑size Gaelic football pitch, a soccer pitch, an all‑weather astro‑turf pitch and a walking track, providing ample space for physical education and community sport events. The school places a strong emphasis on experiential learning, particularly through its STEM programme where pupils regularly engage in hands‑on activities and experiments that encourage curiosity and problem‑solving. This focus on practical inquiry is complemented by a broad extracurricular programme, highlighted by recent successes in badminton, a sports quiz, and an art competition, demonstrating the school’s commitment to nurturing talent across a range of disciplines. Together, the modern facilities and a balanced curriculum aim to foster confident, well‑rounded learners who are prepared for the challenges of the future.
Applying to Ballyvary Central 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 Ballyvary Central 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 Ballyvary Central National School
How many pupils attend Ballyvary Central National School?
Ballyvary Central National School has 223 pupils enrolled, 108 girls and 115 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballyvary Central National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballyvary Central 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 Ballyvary Central National School?
Ballyvary Central National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.