Meelickmore National School
Claremorris, Mayo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 81 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 33 girls, 48 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 12173A the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Meelickmore National School is a small, mixed‑gender primary school situated in a rural setting in County Mayo, approximately two kilometres outside Claremorris and just off the N17, near Hanley’s equestrian centre. With a team of four teachers, the school offers intimate class sizes that enable personalised attention and a strong sense of community. The curriculum is delivered within a well‑ordered, caring and secure atmosphere, encouraging each pupil to reach their full potential academically, socially and emotionally. The school places a high priority on accessibility and parental involvement. A private bus service operates each morning and evening, linking the school with Claremorris town, local estates and surrounding areas, ensuring reliable transport for pupils. The rural location provides opportunities for outdoor learning and engagement with the natural environment, while the close‑knit community fosters collaborative projects and extracurricular activities that support holistic development.
History
Fr. Ulick Burke P.P. had the school built in 1883, and pupils began attending on the 3rd of March 1884, in a single room heated by a turf fire that pupils supplied themselves. 63 children attended on the first day and a further 9 the next, ranging in age from 4 to 15, though only 3 had previously attended any other school. 11 subjects were taught from the outset, including needlework for girls and agriculture for boys. Thomas Hopkins was the first principal teacher and served for 40 years. Seamus O'Malley, who captained the Mayo team that won the All-Ireland, taught at the school and resigned in 1932 and 1937 to travel to the USA with the team. Attendance among boys stayed irregular up to 1926, when compulsory education was introduced. The building was substantially renovated in 1944 and divided into classrooms, with further improvements carried out in 1959, 1971, 1976, 1978 and 1983.
Applying to Meelickmore 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 Meelickmore 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 Meelickmore National School
How many pupils attend Meelickmore National School?
Meelickmore National School has 81 pupils enrolled, 33 girls and 48 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Meelickmore National School a DEIS school?
No. Meelickmore 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 Meelickmore National School?
Meelickmore National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.