Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne
Roscommon
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 96 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 33 girls, 63 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18432F the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballyfeeney National School is a co‑educational, mainstream primary school located in the parish of Kilglass, County Roscommon. With a small teaching team of four staff members, the school provides a close‑knit learning environment for its 108 pupils, who come from the neighbouring parishes of Kilglass and Scramogue. The school’s ethos centres on creating a happy, safe and inclusive atmosphere where every child is valued, respected and encouraged to achieve their best. The curriculum is delivered through a balanced programme that integrates the national curriculum with a strong emphasis on active engagement, practical initiatives and community involvement. Facilities support a range of activities, and the school benefits from a dedicated Board of Management and an active Parents Association, fostering strong home‑school partnerships. The school’s motto, “Ní neart go cur le chéile” (there is no strength without unity), reflects its commitment to collaborative learning and community spirit.
History
Ballyfeeney takes its name from the Gaelic Baile Ui Fhidhne, meaning the town of Feeney. The 1659 Census of Ireland recorded the townland under the Anglicised name 'Ballyfinny', noting 8 families resident. Before formal schooling, a Hedge School operated at Ballyfeeney; the father of 1916 leader Seán Mc Diarmiada was once a teacher there. Construction began in 1866 on what became known as the Lower School, built on land owned by the landlord Mahon of Strokestown, and a second school, later called the Upper School, followed on the same landlord's land in 1873, with junior pupils taught in the Upper School and senior pupils in the Lower School. A new school building replaced both in 1961. A school at Carrigeen, Kilglass, dating from 1891, closed in the 1960s and amalgamated into Ballyfeeney, and the school at Northyard, Scramogue, closed and amalgamated with Ballyfeeney in the 1970s. A 1991 fund-raising drive paid for improved access, a new water supply and boundary wall work. The school gained an extension, officially opened in 2007.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne
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 Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne. 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 Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne?
Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne has 96 pupils enrolled, 33 girls and 63 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne 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 Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne?
Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Ui Fhidhne has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.