Naomh Bridhid
Carndonagh, Donegal
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 92 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 57 girls, 35 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16836T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Naomh Bríd, Glenmakee, is a co‑educational national school under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Derry. Set in a rural, picturesque location near the Abhainn Bhinn Dearg and just two miles from Carndonagh, the school provides a tranquil environment for its approximately 100 pupils. With a modest staff of four mainstream teachers, the school focuses on the full and harmonious development of each child, nurturing intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual growth while fostering a living relationship with God and the wider community. The ethos is inspired by the patron saint, St Brigid, and promotes a caring, inclusive atmosphere where every pupil feels a strong sense of belonging, irrespective of colour, creed, class or culture. Discipline is employed as a tool to encourage respect, empathy and self‑worth. A broad range of resources supports this vision, including wellbeing programmes, home‑learning activities and a variety of educational materials that enhance classroom learning and extracurricular engagement.
History
Prior to formal national education, hedge schools served the Inishowen area, with a 1826 report noting Michael McColgan teaching in a thatched wall at Collin. Glassalts National School, erected in 1837 on land donated by the McMonagle family, was one of the first national schools in the barony. The one‑room, 30 ft × 20 ft building accommodated up to 108 pupils and operated for 94 years. By the 1920s the school was overcrowded, prompting Fr McGeown to request a new building. Following inspection, a new school was constructed in 1931 on land provided by the Doherty family, establishing the present site of Scoil Naomh Bríd.
Applying to Naomh Bridhid
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
View Naomh Bridhid's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Naomh Bridhid. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Naomh Bridhid
How many pupils attend Naomh Bridhid?
Naomh Bridhid has 92 pupils enrolled, 57 girls and 35 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Naomh Bridhid a DEIS school?
Yes. Naomh Bridhid is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Naomh Bridhid?
Naomh Bridhid has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.