Rathcormack National School
Sligo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 244 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 116 girls, 128 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19408N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Rathcormac National School is a vibrant primary school serving the village of Rathcormac, situated about three miles north of Sligo on the main N15. Set against the striking backdrop of Benbulben, the school benefits from a picturesque rural environment while remaining easily accessible via the Bundoran road. The campus comprises a modern 1975‑era building that was expanded in the 1990s to accommodate all class groups, providing spacious classrooms, a purpose‑built centre room, and dedicated areas for STEM, green initiatives and extracurricular activities such as badminton, hurling and robotics. The school adopts a child‑centred, inquiry‑based approach, encouraging pupils to develop confidence, creativity and critical thinking through a balanced programme of literacy, numeracy and experiential learning. Recent investment in high‑speed broadband, delivered under the Department of Education’s School Broadband Programme, supports digital literacy and enhances classroom resources. A strong emphasis on community involvement and cultural heritage is evident in the school’s celebration of local traditions and its integration of outdoor learning within the surrounding countryside.
History
The original Rathcormac school was established south of the present Catholic church as a two‑teacher institution, recording 222 pupils in 1870. A second Rathcormac school was built in 1935, also as a two‑teacher facility, and remained in use until its closure in 1975. In the mid‑1970s, a Department of Education policy of amalgamation led to the consolidation of three parish schools – the original Rathcormac (St Colmcille’s), Lugnagall National School (opened 1907) and St Finian’s National School in Carney – into a new central school, Colmcille Naofa, opened in 1975 on the current site. The new building was initially a four‑teacher school with a central purpose room and was later expanded in the early 1990s to accommodate all classes. The former Rathcormac premises have since been repurposed as a community hall and scout hall, while the Lugnagall and Carney buildings have been converted into private dwellings.
Applying to Rathcormack 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 Rathcormack 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 Rathcormack National School
How many pupils attend Rathcormack National School?
Rathcormack National School has 244 pupils enrolled, 116 girls and 128 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Rathcormack National School a DEIS school?
No. Rathcormack 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 Rathcormack National School?
Rathcormack National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.