Rush Hall Mixed National School
Mountrath, Laois
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 30 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 13 girls, 17 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 12231L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Rushall Mixed National School is a small rural primary school located in the Pike of Rushall, about 5 km from the villages of Castletown and Borris in Ossory, County Laois. The school operates across two main classrooms and provides a nurturing, secure environment where pupils are encouraged to develop socially, academically and spiritually at their own pace. Its ethos reflects the values and traditions of the local community and aims to develop knowledge and character in every child, preparing them with confidence for the challenges of life now and in the future. The school’s facilities combine historic charm with modern extensions. The original building dates from 1881 and a 2013 extension added a dedicated SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) classroom, a spacious staffroom and an office. Outdoor amenities include a basketball court, a front playing area, a full‑size pitch suitable for hurling, football and rounders, and a school garden. A strong emphasis is placed on extracurricular provision, with programmes in STEM (including VEX Robotics and LEGO Prime kits), music generation, swimming, sports and digital learning, all designed to enrich pupils’ experiences beyond the classroom.
History
The school was originally built in 1881. In 2013 an extension was added, providing a specialised SET classroom, a larger staffroom and an office to support contemporary teaching and learning needs.
Applying to Rush Hall Mixed 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
View Rush Hall Mixed 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 Rush Hall Mixed 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 Rush Hall Mixed National School
How many pupils attend Rush Hall Mixed National School?
Rush Hall Mixed National School has 30 pupils enrolled, 13 girls and 17 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Rush Hall Mixed National School a DEIS school?
No. Rush Hall Mixed 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 Rush Hall Mixed National School?
Rush Hall Mixed National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.