Mhuire Fatima National School
Portlaoise, Laois
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 193 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 88 girls, 105 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18368W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Mhuire Fatima (Timahoe National School) is a co‑educational Catholic primary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. It provides mainstream primary education for children aged 4‑12 and operates two specialist pre‑school classes for children diagnosed with autism, demonstrating a commitment to inclusive education and early intervention. The school’s ethos is rooted in Catholic values, fostering a supportive community where spiritual, social and academic development are balanced. The school benefits from a range of modern facilities that support a broad curriculum and vibrant extracurricular programme. Recent developments include a new basketball court and all‑weather track, a well‑equipped science laboratory used for annual science fairs and robotics competitions, and dedicated spaces for clubs such as Lego, GAA skills, and robotics. These resources enable pupils to engage in hands‑on learning, from experiments on acids and bases to participation in regional VEX IQ robotics events, encouraging curiosity, teamwork and confidence. A strong emphasis is placed on whole‑child development through regular cultural and charitable activities, including Catholic Schools Week celebrations, Grandparents Day, and community walks to Croke Park. The school’s active parent‑teacher association and regular newsletters keep families informed and involved, creating a close‑knit village atmosphere in the peaceful setting of Timahoe, 12 km from Portlaoise.
Applying to Mhuire Fatima 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 Mhuire Fatima 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 Mhuire Fatima National School
How many pupils attend Mhuire Fatima National School?
Mhuire Fatima National School has 193 pupils enrolled, 88 girls and 105 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Mhuire Fatima National School a DEIS school?
No. Mhuire Fatima 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 Mhuire Fatima National School?
Mhuire Fatima National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.