Bruckless National School
Donegal
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 18 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 11 girls, 7 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16664Q the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Bruckless National School is a small, rural, two‑teacher primary school situated in the coastal village of Bruckless on the Wild Atlantic Way. The co‑educational, Catholic‑ethos school welcomes children of all faiths and provides a well‑ordered, caring and secure environment where intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural development are nurtured. Classrooms are bright and spacious, equipped with SMART Board interactive displays and a strong ICT provision that includes laptops and tablets to support a thematic, cross‑curricular approach to learning. The school places the child at the centre of its practice, promoting independence, self‑confidence, self‑motivation and lifelong skills through inclusive, innovative teaching methods. A strong partnership with parents, the Board of Management and local community groups enriches the curriculum, while extracurricular programmes in sport, music, art and language broaden pupils’ experiences. Emphasis is placed on gender equity, staff professional development and the use of the Irish language in daily life.
History
Founded in 1926, Scoil an Bhroclais began as a modest two‑room rural school with wooden floors, wainscotted walls and open‑fire heating. Originally serving children from the surrounding townlands of Benroe, Ballyloughan, Castlereagh, Calhame, Bruckless, Carntullagh and Drimaghy, the school relied on local bus services and a shelter for pupils awaiting transport. Under Catholic patronage, successive parish priests oversaw its spiritual guidance. The school expanded in the 1980s to a three‑teacher model with a portable classroom, later replaced by a permanent extension in the 1990s that added carpeting, new windows and storage heaters. After periods of fluctuating enrolment, it returned to a two‑teacher structure, with recent leadership changes culminating in the appointment of Lorcan O’Toole as principal in August 2023. Over the years, the school has embraced music, sport, language support for Ukrainian newcomers and a range of creative initiatives such as “Say Yes to” language programmes and Art Blast projects.
Applying to Bruckless 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 Bruckless 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 Bruckless National School
How many pupils attend Bruckless National School?
Bruckless National School has 18 pupils enrolled, 11 girls and 7 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Bruckless National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Bruckless 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 Bruckless National School?
Bruckless National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.