Barnashrone National School
MOUNTMELLICK, Laois
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 91 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 36 girls, 55 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18294T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Barnashrone National School is a small rural DEIS Catholic primary school situated at the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, roughly 4 km from Mountmellick and 6.5 km from Portlaoise. The school embraces an inclusive ethos, welcoming pupils of all abilities, denominations and cultural backgrounds, and aims to foster the full and harmonious development of each child – intellectually, physically, culturally, morally and spiritually. A strong emphasis is placed on creating a nurturing, welcoming environment where diverse traditions are celebrated and children are encouraged to build respectful relationships with one another and with God. The curriculum is delivered within modern classroom facilities that support a range of learning activities, and the school provides a daily free hot meal for every pupil through a dedicated lunch app. Extra‑curricular provision includes wellbeing and anti‑bullying programmes, and the school maintains an up‑to‑date calendar of events and news to keep families informed. As a DEIS school, Barnashrone benefits from additional resources aimed at supporting disadvantaged learners and promoting equity across the community.
History
School records date back to 1864, with early 20th‑century pupils paying a half‑penny per day to attend. The present school building opened on 1 September 1958, initially accommodating 64 children. The first principal of the new premises was Thomas Flynn, assisted by deputy Susan Breen. In 2008, Aileen Delaney became principal, continuing the school’s tradition of inclusive, Catholic education.
Applying to Barnashrone 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
View Barnashrone 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 Barnashrone 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 Barnashrone National School
How many pupils attend Barnashrone National School?
Barnashrone National School has 91 pupils enrolled, 36 girls and 55 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Barnashrone National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Barnashrone National School is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Barnashrone National School?
Barnashrone National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.