Milltown National School
Tuam, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 99 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 51 girls, 48 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18460K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Milltown National School is a co‑educational primary school that provides a welcoming, inclusive environment rooted in Catholic values. Its mission focuses on nurturing the self‑esteem and wellbeing of every pupil while delivering a stimulating, age‑appropriate curriculum that prepares children to become responsible, ethical, creative and compassionate members of society. The school actively engages with the local community and maintains links to wider national and global networks, encouraging a sense of belonging and civic responsibility. The campus has developed considerably since its opening in 1962. Original classrooms have been modernised and expanded, with two additional classrooms added in 1990 and a multi‑functional hall and support rooms completed in 2009. Recent enhancements include a larger yard and sports pitch together with an outdoor classroom/garden introduced in 2020‑2021, providing diverse learning environments. Milltown National School is recognised for excellence in STEM and environmental initiatives, holding awards such as the World Robotics Olympiad (2024), multiple Discover Primary Science Awards, the Active School Flag, the Green School Flag and the SuperValu Tidy Towns School Award.
History
Milltown National School opened in its present location in 1962 following the amalgamation of Milltown Boys and Milltown Girls schools, initially occupying a three‑room building with separate cloakrooms for boys and girls. In 1967 Kilgevrin National School merged with Milltown, increasing enrolment to 110 pupils and prompting the use of a prefab for infant classes. Two new classrooms were constructed in 1990, and the original rooms were reconfigured into larger spaces with dedicated toilets. Further development saw the addition of a multi‑functional hall and support rooms in 2009, a substantially larger yard and pitch, and an outdoor classroom/garden completed in 2020‑2021. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012, marking a half‑century of educational service to the community.
Applying to Milltown 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 Milltown 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 Milltown National School
How many pupils attend Milltown National School?
Milltown National School has 99 pupils enrolled, 51 girls and 48 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Milltown National School a DEIS school?
No. Milltown 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 Milltown National School?
Milltown National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.