Fatima National School
CARRICK ON SHANNON, Leitrim
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 63 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 37 girls, 26 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18741S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Fatima National School is a small, vibrant rural primary school situated in Cloone and operating under the patronage of the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. The school provides a safe, secure and inclusive learning environment that nurtures pupils spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and socially. With a dedicated team of four teachers, including three mainstream class teachers, a Special Educational Needs (S.E.T.) teacher, and a full‑time Special Needs Assistant, the school delivers the Irish “New Curriculum” across a broad range of subjects such as English, Irish, Mathematics, History, Geography, Science, SPHE, Music, Drama, Arts & Crafts and Physical Education. Beyond the classroom, Fatima National School places a strong emphasis on sport, music and outdoor learning. All pupils participate in GAA activities and a variety of other sports throughout the year, and the school offers instrumental tuition including tin whistle, ukulele and participation in the Music Generation programme. The campus benefits from extensive grounds, featuring a football pitch and a vegetable and fruit garden, which support both physical education and experiential learning. Community involvement and a commitment to fostering each child’s unique potential are central to the school’s ethos.
History
Fatima National School, Cloone was built in 1963, replacing an earlier school dating from 1902 that stood beneath the historic Tower of St James Church. The 1902 building had itself succeeded an even earlier village school and, after ceasing to function as a school, served as a community centre and fundraising base for the new St Mary’s Church and the New Community Centre. A substantial extension was added to the present school in 1999. The school now serves as the central primary school for the parish of Cloone and surrounding areas; in the 1970s the nearby schools at Adoon, Corduff and Drumloughan closed and their pupils were transferred to Fatima National School. Former pupils of Adoon and Drumloughan have held reunions, the latter taking place in July 2005.
Applying to Fatima 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 Fatima 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 Fatima National School
How many pupils attend Fatima National School?
Fatima National School has 63 pupils enrolled, 37 girls and 26 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Fatima National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Fatima 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 Fatima National School?
Fatima National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.