Cloonloo National School
Sligo
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 37 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 16 girls, 21 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 12767G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Ronan’s National School (Cloonloo National School) is a small, rural DEIS primary school serving the Cloonloo community in County Sligo. The school operates with a two‑teacher mainstream model complemented by a full‑time Special Education Teacher, a part‑time shared SET, and a part‑time EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher, supported by two Special Needs Assistants, a part‑time secretary and caretaker. This staffing structure enables the school to provide inclusive, differentiated learning for all pupils, with particular emphasis on supporting children with additional needs and those for whom English is an additional language. The school building comprises two mainstream classrooms and two dedicated special‑education classrooms, all of which are wheelchair accessible. Facilities have been modernised following a major refurbishment in 2005 and an extension in 2018 that added two new SET rooms and an accessible toilet. The school’s ethos promotes a vibrant, supportive environment where daily teaching and learning are enriched by a bilingual website, an up‑to‑date calendar and a range of policies that underpin a safe and nurturing atmosphere for pupils.
History
The origins of St. Ronan’s National School date back to circa 1840 when Master John Scanlon served as principal of a modest 14 ft × 12 ft (5.6 m × 4.6 m) schoolhouse. By the end of 1886 the roll comprised 40 boys and 31 girls, and a new, larger school opened on 24 October 1887, built of stone and mortar to accommodate up to 200 pupils (100 boys and 100 girls). The present school building was constructed in 1964 by local builder Mick McDonagh and officially opened on 1 June 1965 by the Bishop of Achonry. In 2005 the school underwent extensive renovation after asbestos was discovered in the roof; the work, completed in March 2006, included new ceilings, floors, windows, internal layout and modern furniture. An extension added in 2018 provided two additional SET rooms and converted the original SET room into an accessible toilet, further enhancing the school’s capacity to meet diverse learning needs.
Applying to Cloonloo 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 Cloonloo 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 Cloonloo National School
How many pupils attend Cloonloo National School?
Cloonloo National School has 37 pupils enrolled, 16 girls and 21 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Cloonloo National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Cloonloo 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 Cloonloo National School?
Cloonloo National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.