Carracastle Central National School
Carracastle, Mayo
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 88 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 52 girls, 36 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19651W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Íosa is a small, four‑teacher Catholic primary school located in the townland of Castleduff, within the rural village of Carracastle. Set on the historic Charlestown‑to‑Ballaghaderreen road, the school serves families from the surrounding three‑county parish (Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon). The school operates under the patronage of the Bishop of Achonry and follows a holistic Christian ethos, aiming to provide equality, mutual respect and an appreciation of each child’s individual talents. Learning is delivered in a warm, caring and positive environment that strives for excellence and encourages pupils to develop their full potential. The school benefits from close ties to the neighbouring Castlekidz Childcare Service, a purpose‑built centre offering a breakfast club, full‑day care and sessional provision for children aged three to twelve, thereby supporting working parents in the community. Scoil Íosa is also proud to be a Green School, actively participating in environmental programmes and displaying numerous green‑school flags as evidence of its long‑term commitment to sustainability.
History
Prior to the establishment of the national school system in 1831, education in the Carracastle parish was provided by hedge schools and modest day schools. The first formal national school, Cloonfane National School, opened in August 1844, followed by Tonroe (1861), Lecarrow (1866), Rooskey (1866), Derrikinlough (1881) and Palmfield (1886). Over the ensuing decades, several schools were rebuilt or amalgamated, notably Lecarrow’s merger with Charlestown N.S. in 1968 and the closure of Derrikinlough in 1966. In 1979 Cloonfane merged with Tonroe as a step towards centralisation, and in 1982 Scoil Íosa was opened, replacing the three schools of Cloonfane, Tonroe and Palmfield and providing a modern, unified primary education for the parish.
Applying to Carracastle 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 Carracastle 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 Carracastle Central National School
How many pupils attend Carracastle Central National School?
Carracastle Central National School has 88 pupils enrolled, 52 girls and 36 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Carracastle Central National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Carracastle Central 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 Carracastle Central National School?
Carracastle Central National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.