Bun Scoil Louis Naofa
Carrickmacross, Monaghan
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 258 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15329U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Bunscoil Lughaidh Naofa is a vibrant primary school for girls situated in the tranquil parkland of Cloughvalley, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. With a roll of around 260 pupils accommodated in eleven mainstream classrooms, the school offers a spacious learning environment that allows teachers to tailor instruction to each child’s individuality. A strong emphasis is placed on a caring, holistic approach that nurtures academic development, faith formation and social values, encouraging respect, tolerance and a sense of belonging within the family of God. Support structures include a language support teacher, three special‑education teachers and dedicated special‑needs assistants, ensuring that any additional curricular needs are met promptly. The school benefits from a modern, well‑maintained building that has undergone extensive recent upgrades. Over the past decade the premises have been re‑roofed, fully insulated, and equipped with a new heating system, PVC windows and an extended car park. In 2025 solar panels were installed, and the campus now features interactive smart boards, laptops, tablets and a comprehensive range of maths equipment to facilitate hands‑on learning. Sporting facilities support football, swimming, camogie and other activities, while dedicated spaces for the arts, gardening and debating encourage a broad development of talents. Recent improvements also include fibre broadband, an intercom and camera system, upgraded PE storage, new flooring in senior classrooms and enhanced safety railings throughout the site.
History
The school traces its origins to the Sisters of St Louis, a teaching congregation founded in 1842 in Juilly, near Paris. The sisters arrived in Ireland in 1859 and established the Louis motherhouse in Monaghan town. By 1888 they had acquired Essex Castle in Carrickmacross and opened a St Louis National School for Girls in Farney Street. In 1985 the present Bunscoil Lughaidh Naofa opened in Cloughvalley, continuing the founding ethos of Christian charity and the motto “Ut Sint Unum” (“that they may be one”). Although no nuns now teach at the school, the original spirit of devotion to the education of girls remains central to its mission.
Applying to Bun Scoil Louis Naofa
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 Bun Scoil Louis Naofa. 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 Bun Scoil Louis Naofa
How many pupils attend Bun Scoil Louis Naofa?
Bun Scoil Louis Naofa has 258 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Bun Scoil Louis Naofa a DEIS school?
No. Bun Scoil Louis Naofa 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 Bun Scoil Louis Naofa?
Bun Scoil Louis Naofa has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' primary school.