Merlin Woods Primary School
Doughiska, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 383 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 185 girls, 198 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20350P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Merlin Woods Primary School sits on the Doughiska Road on the east side of Galway city, serving the Good Shepherd Parish and the communities of Doughiska, Roscam and Ardaun. It is a co-educational Catholic primary school of more than 380 pupils and around 40 staff. Religious education follows the doctrine and practice of the Roman Catholic Church, while pupils of other religions and of none are enrolled. Teaching is spread across 16 mainstream classrooms, with two specialised classes for children with autism. The premises include a hall, support teaching rooms, a library, a multi-sensory room, basketball courts and a yard. Music tuition on instruments is provided through Music Generation, and the Board of Management has funded play facilities, special educational resources and learning technology. The school holds Active School Flag status, with a committee drawn from third to sixth class helping to plan physical activity, and it participates in the Schools of Sanctuary and Creative Schools initiatives. A parent-teacher association works with staff and the Board of Management.
Applying to Merlin Woods Primary 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 Merlin Woods Primary 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 Merlin Woods Primary School
How many pupils attend Merlin Woods Primary School?
Merlin Woods Primary School has 383 pupils enrolled, 185 girls and 198 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Merlin Woods Primary School a DEIS school?
No. Merlin Woods Primary 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 Merlin Woods Primary School?
Merlin Woods Primary School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.