Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha
Tuaim, Galway
Key facts
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 223 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 112 girls, 111 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20061I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha is an Irish‑medium immersion school situated in Tuam, County Galway. From the first day of school, pupils are fully immersed in the Irish language, following a curriculum that integrates language acquisition with a broad range of subjects. The school employs a variety of proven immersion methodologies, including rhymes, songs, stories, drama, role‑play, communicative language games and thematic language functions. These approaches aim to develop natural, confident use of Irish while supporting academic progress across the curriculum. The school places a strong emphasis on holistic development. A dedicated “Active School Flag” programme promotes physical education, structured free play and sport, while partnerships with external organisations enrich the learning environment. An “Active School Week” and a whole‑school “Active Flag” initiative encourage participation, enjoyment and community spirit. In 2021 the school received a grant under the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan, using EU NextGenerationEU funding to provide digital devices and resources that bridge the digital divide, ensuring equitable access to the curriculum for learners at risk of educational disadvantage. Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha operates from Monday to Friday, with junior and senior infants (J & S) attending from 09:00 to 13:40 and classes R1‑R6 from 09:00 to 14:40. The school’s premises are located at Tír An Chóir, Vicarschoral, Tuam, Co. Galway, H54 CC80, and it offers a welcoming environment for families seeking an Irish‑language education.
Applying to Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha
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 Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha. 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 Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha
How many pupils attend Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha?
Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha has 223 pupils enrolled, 112 girls and 111 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha a DEIS school?
No. Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha 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.
Does Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha teaches all subjects through Irish.