Carrigboy National School
BANTRY, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 82 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 36 girls, 46 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16286K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Carrigboy National School is a vibrant primary school serving children from Junior Infants through Sixth Class. The school places a strong emphasis on a balanced curriculum that combines academic learning with a wide range of extracurricular activities, including debating, sports such as tag rugby and badminton, and participation in cultural events like Seachtain na Gaeilge. A commitment to health and wellbeing is evident through its Healthy Eating Policy, which encourages nutritious lunches and restricts sugary snacks and drinks, as well as its active school programmes that promote physical activity throughout the year. The school maintains a clear uniform policy to foster a sense of community and equality, requiring navy pinafores or skirts, navy denim or trousers, and appropriate jumpers. Safety is prioritised with a traffic plan that discourages vehicle entry at the school entrance and promotes safe drop‑off along footpaths. Communication with families is supported by regular updates on school matters, including Covid‑19 guidance and attendance procedures, ensuring a transparent and supportive learning environment for all pupils.
History
Before Carrigboy N.S. existed, children from Durrus village and the surrounding area attended Four Mile Water N.S., named after the river flowing behind the village. A new school was built in 1914 on the site of the former church and took the name Carrigboy N.S. from the adjoining townland. It opened on the 8th of February 1915, as two large classrooms divided by a folding partition, accommodating four teachers and 123 pupils taught as two separate schools, a girls' school under Ellen McCarthy with assistant Mary O'Sullivan, and a boys' school under Jeremiah Moynihan with assistant Josephine Moynihan. The two were amalgamated in 1925 under the principalship of Michael Gallagher, and the school ran with four teachers until the late 1940's, when it lost one. Continuing population decline reduced it to two teachers in the 1950's, rising again to three in 1982. Extensive repair work followed in 1986/87, adding a classroom, foyer, staffroom, toilets and library, and the school was further extended in 2008.
Applying to Carrigboy 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 Carrigboy 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 Carrigboy National School
How many pupils attend Carrigboy National School?
Carrigboy National School has 82 pupils enrolled, 36 girls and 46 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Carrigboy National School a DEIS school?
No. Carrigboy 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 Carrigboy National School?
Carrigboy National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.