Roxboro National School
Roscommon
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 226 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 108 girls, 118 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18742U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Roxboro National School is a Catholic co‑educational primary school situated in Derrane, County Roscommon. The school delivers a holistic curriculum that nurtures the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral, emotional and cultural development of each pupil, in line with its stated ethos of “Laborare est orare” – “to work is to pray”. Emphasis is placed on a balanced programme of academic learning, Gaelic games, the arts and environmental stewardship, reflected in recent achievements such as a Greener Spaces award and strong performance in national debating competitions. The campus has expanded steadily, now comprising a main building with ten classrooms, a dedicated sports area for Gaelic football, and facilities that support a vibrant extracurricular programme. A distinctive school uniform of sky‑blue shirt or blouse with navy skirt or trousers and jumper reinforces a sense of community, while the school crest, designed by a local artist, symbolises the Christian faith, love of learning, local oak heritage and sporting spirit.
History
The educational tradition in the Roxboro area dates back to an 18th‑century hedge school run by Micheál Ó Braonáin, with a surviving roll book entry from 18 January 1796 – possibly the oldest in Ireland. The first formal school was erected in 1865. In 1963 a second school, the “Hanly Memorial School”, opened as a two‑teacher institution, later expanded with a third classroom in 1984. A third, larger school was built in 2003/2004 with five classrooms, and additional classrooms were added in 2010, 2015 and 2016, bringing the current facilities to ten classrooms.
Applying to Roxboro 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 Roxboro 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 Roxboro National School
How many pupils attend Roxboro National School?
Roxboro National School has 226 pupils enrolled, 108 girls and 118 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Roxboro National School a DEIS school?
No. Roxboro 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 Roxboro National School?
Roxboro National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.