Riverstown 2 National School
Sligo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 30 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 15 girls, 15 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13196R the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Taunagh National School is a small, two‑teacher primary school situated in the heart of Riverstown village, County Sligo. The two‑storey building sits on a raised site overlooking the Unshin River and is surrounded by a generous play area that includes two grassed fields, a basketball court and a sheltered space. Recent renovation and extension work completed in 2009 added a junior classroom, a senior classroom, a dedicated computer and learning‑support room, as well as modern office, toilet and storage facilities. An outdoor classroom, together with flower and vegetable beds, provides additional learning environments, and the school benefits from high‑speed broadband supplied through the Department of Education’s School Broadband Programme. The school’s ethos is rooted in the Christian tradition of the Church of Ireland, promoting values such as individual responsibility, forgiveness, reconciliation and hope. Pupils are encouraged to think independently, respect diversity and develop a sense of personal and social responsibility. The curriculum is enriched with daily ICT use (laptops and iPads), swimming lessons, visits from GAA, tennis and dance coaches, art competitions, Green Schools projects, an active‑schools programme and a shared‑education partnership with Ardkeeran National School.
History
A school has occupied the present site since 1840, with enrolment records dating back to January 1887. Originally the teacher’s residence was located on the upper floor, a practice that continued until the late 1930s. Notable in the school’s history is Mrs Ann Patterson, who served as principal for 47 years from 1925 to 1972. The institution was formerly known as Riverstown No 2 National School. In the 1930s it operated as a one‑teacher school for boys and girls in a two‑storey stone building, with a downstairs classroom equipped with a kitchenette, wooden floor, inkwells and a turf fire for heating, and a separate upstairs residence for the teacher.
Applying to Riverstown 2 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 Riverstown 2 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 Riverstown 2 National School
How many pupils attend Riverstown 2 National School?
Riverstown 2 National School has 30 pupils enrolled, 15 girls and 15 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Riverstown 2 National School a DEIS school?
No. Riverstown 2 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 Riverstown 2 National School?
Riverstown 2 National School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.