Gallen Community School
Ferbane, Offaly
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 441 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 208 girls, 233 boys
- Ethos
- Inter Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 91515W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gallen Community School is a co‑educational, Christian‑based community school serving the Ferbane catchment area. It offers a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum that caters for the academic, spiritual and personal development of each pupil. The school places a strong emphasis on pastoral care, encouraging self‑esteem, social responsibility and moral values, while a wide range of after‑school clubs, sports and a vibrant Student Council provide ample opportunities for extracurricular involvement. The school operates from a state‑of‑the‑art facility opened in September 2010, designed by Henry J Lyons Architects and managed by Sodexo under a Public‑Private Partnership scheme. The modern building supports a rich learning environment with specialised classrooms, technology‑enhanced spaces and areas for sport and the arts. Transition support is provided for first‑year students, and the school works closely with parents and local community groups to ensure a caring, respectful atmosphere where every learner can reach their full potential.
History
Gallen Community School was established in 2004 following the amalgamation of two secondary schools in Ferbane. In September 2010 the school moved into a new purpose‑built campus designed by Henry J Lyons Architects and constructed under the Department of Education and Science’s Public‑Private Partnership programme, with Sodexo overseeing facilities management. Funded by the Department of Education and Science, the school follows the teacher allocation system and has since been recognised for high‑quality teaching and strong Leaving Certificate results.
Applying to Gallen Community 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
View Gallen Community School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide post-primary school dates apply broadly to Gallen Community School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (primary schools: Thu 18 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 Gallen Community School
How many pupils attend Gallen Community School?
Gallen Community School has 441 pupils enrolled, 208 girls and 233 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Gallen Community School a DEIS school?
No. Gallen Community 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 Gallen Community School?
Gallen Community School has an Inter Denominational ethos. It is a mixed post-primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by DiarmuidC15. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 4.0.