Raharney National School
MULLINGAR, Westmeath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 61 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 31 girls, 30 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18484B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Raharney National School (Scoil Mhuire) is a mixed, rural primary school situated in the scenic countryside ten miles from Mullingar. The school serves a close‑knit community of roughly 118 pupils, offering a balanced curriculum that blends academic learning with strong emphasis on personal development, social skills and environmental stewardship. A vibrant Green Schools committee underpins the school’s commitment to sustainability, while participation in the Allianz Cúmhná na Bunscol programme provides pupils with regular opportunities to engage in a wide range of sporting activities. The campus has been progressively expanded since its opening in 1960. Modern extensions have added a dedicated learning support room, an additional mainstream classroom, a well‑equipped staff room and a spacious multi‑purpose hall. Upgrades to the electrical system, alarm facilities and playground surface have enhanced safety and comfort. The school’s facilities support both mainstream and special‑education needs, with specialised staff and resources to ensure inclusive learning for all children. Beyond the classroom, Raharney NS fosters a lively extracurricular programme. Pupils regularly compete in hurling, camogie, football and other Cúmhná na Bunscol events, achieving notable success in recent years. The school’s ethos encourages good manners, cooperation and confidence, preparing children for the transition to secondary education and lifelong learning.
History
Raharney National School was built in 1960 by Maguire Brothers of Athboy and originally relied on turf heating supplied by Bord na Móna, with individual stove fires in each classroom. The first manager, Fr Delaney, blessed the school after Sunday Mass and opened it to parents the following day. Early staff included Mr Seamus Brennan, Mrs Swords and Mrs Hegarty, and enrolment quickly rose to just over 100 pupils by 1961. The first extension was added in 1978 by Dunnes of Kinnegad, followed by a further extension in 2007 that provided an extra mainstream classroom and a learning support room. In 2011 a staff room was constructed, and the same year the Summer Works Scheme upgraded the school’s electrical wiring and alarms. A playground resurfacing and treatment system were installed in 2014. Funding from the Department of Education in 2015 enabled the addition of a new classroom, a principal’s office and a large hall, completed with supplementary Board of Management contributions. The school’s teams enjoyed considerable success in Cúmhná na Bunscol competitions in 2016, winning titles in camogie, hurling, football and the Mini 7’s.
Applying to Raharney 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 Raharney 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 Raharney National School
How many pupils attend Raharney National School?
Raharney National School has 61 pupils enrolled, 31 girls and 30 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Raharney National School a DEIS school?
No. Raharney 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 Raharney National School?
Raharney National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.