Parochial National School
Woodquay, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 75 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 42 girls, 33 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16750J the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Nicholas’ Parochial School is a co‑educational, child‑centred primary school situated in the heart of Galway City, Waterside, Woodquay, beside the Town Hall Theatre and within easy walking distance of the University of Galway and the University Hospital Galway. As the parish school of St Nicholas Collegiate Church, it welcomes children of all religious backgrounds and nationalities, delivering the Irish Primary Curriculum in an integrated manner that values creativity, critical thinking and civic responsibility. The school benefits from spacious, low‑pupil‑to‑teacher ratio classrooms and high‑tech IT facilities, providing a safe, secure and sustainable learning environment. A broad programme of extra‑curricular activities enriches the curriculum, including swimming, hockey, drama, Chinese, French, Zumba, music, yoga and a range of clubs such as Ladybirds and Brownies. An after‑school facility supports homework and offers additional activities, while the central location enables regular visits to local cultural and educational venues such as the Town Hall Theatre, Galway City Museum, City Library, Woodquay Park and the university campus. School hours run from 8.30 am, with infants finishing at 1.20 pm and first to sixth classes at 2.20 pm, preparing pupils for smooth transition to local secondary schools.
History
St Nicholas’ Parochial School opened its doors on 12 July 1926 in the Buckland Buildings, a Georgian house built in 1835 located next to the Town Hall Theatre and opposite the Courthouse in Waterside, Woodquay. Since its foundation the school has continued to serve the youth of Galway, maintaining a low pupil‑teacher ratio, spacious classrooms and modern IT facilities while fostering a safe, secure and sustainable learning environment.
Applying to Parochial 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
View Parochial National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Parochial National School. 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 Parochial National School
How many pupils attend Parochial National School?
Parochial National School has 75 pupils enrolled, 42 girls and 33 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Parochial National School a DEIS school?
No. Parochial 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 Parochial National School?
Parochial National School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.