Garbally National School
Ballinasloe, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 53 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 21 girls, 32 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17863E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Jarlath’s National School, Garbally is a rural, mixed‑gender primary school situated in the shadow of Garbally Castle in Skehana, County Galway. The school provides a warm, child‑centred environment that prioritises kindness, equality and respect, aiming to nurture inquisitive minds and a love of learning. Its educational approach is holistic, seeking to develop pupils socially, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and community awareness. The school benefits from extensive outdoor space, allowing children to engage in a wide range of outdoor activities and sport, encouraging participation over competition. Strong partnerships with parents, guardians and the wider community are central to daily life, supporting a sense of belonging and shared responsibility. Additional provisions such as a Homework Club (Mon‑Thu, 2.45 pm‑3.45 pm) and comprehensive internet safety policies further enhance the supportive learning environment.
Applying to Garbally 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Garbally 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 Garbally National School
How many pupils attend Garbally National School?
Garbally National School has 53 pupils enrolled, 21 girls and 32 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Garbally National School a DEIS school?
No. Garbally National 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 Garbally National School?
Garbally National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.