Gaelscoil Ultain
Muineacháin, Monaghan
Key facts
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 373 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 183 girls, 190 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19936P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelscoil Ultain is a co‑educational primary school in Monaghan serving children from Junior Infants to Rang 6, with approximately 380 pupils enrolled as of September 2025. The school delivers the curriculum through the Irish language, with all subjects except English taught in Irish, ensuring pupils become fluent bilingual speakers. Instruction is set within a Christian, open and respectful atmosphere that promotes academic excellence, personal responsibility and a love of Irish culture. Since February 2013 the school has been housed in a purpose‑built building on the former army barracks site on the Armagh Road, providing modern classrooms and dedicated spaces for music, dance, drama and other cultural activities. As a parish school under the patronage of the Bishop of Clogher, it is overseen by a principal and Board of Management, and places equal emphasis on academic learning, cultural enrichment and the development of respectful, confident individuals.
History
An application to the Department of Education to establish an Irish‑medium school in Muineachán was submitted in early 1986. The first all‑Irish stream, Sruth Ultain, began in September 1986 within St Mary’s Boys National School, housing 23 children in the old Brothers’ House adjacent to the school. After three years, the Department sanctioned Gaelscoil Ultain as an independent school in 1989, and it was officially blessed by His Eminence Dr Joseph Duffy, Bishop of Clogher, in May 1990. The school remained on the original hill site until a new purpose‑built facility was constructed on the former army barracks on the Armagh Road, to which the school moved in February 2013.
Applying to Gaelscoil Ultain
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 Ultain. 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 Ultain
How many pupils attend Gaelscoil Ultain?
Gaelscoil Ultain has 373 pupils enrolled, 183 girls and 190 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Gaelscoil Ultain a DEIS school?
No. Gaelscoil Ultain 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 Ultain teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelscoil Ultain teaches all subjects through Irish.