Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein
Castlebar, Mayo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 95 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 46 girls, 49 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13444K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballyheane National School is a co‑educational primary school located in the heart of Ballyheane village, County Mayo, just a five‑minute drive from Castlebar on the main Galway Road. The school serves Junior and Senior Infants through 6th class, operating from 9:00 am to 1:40 pm for the younger classes and until 2:40 pm for the older pupils. A punctual daily bus service links the school with Castlebar and surrounding rural areas, and additional transport is provided for after‑school care at nearby facilities. The learning environment blends modern ICT integration with traditional classroom interaction. Each classroom is equipped with Chromebooks, Google Classroom, interactive whiteboards and a focus on coding and digital skills, fostering an engaging, technology‑rich curriculum. Spacious, bright classrooms support inclusive, collaborative learning, while a large PE hall, gym equipment, a basketball court and a football pitch encourage physical development. A dedicated team, including special education support, underpins a strong community spirit that values each child’s unique abilities and promotes holistic development.
History
In May 2008, pupils and teachers at Ballyheane National School, assisted by RSS Coordinator Patricia Jennings, established an organic garden behind the school. Parents and pupils contributed many Saturdays to create and develop the garden, where children now grow and harvest turnips, carrots, onions and potatoes as part of a hands‑on learning project.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein
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
View Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein. 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 Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein?
Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein has 95 pupils enrolled, 46 girls and 49 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein 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 Beal Atha na Hein?
Scoil Náisiúnta Beal Atha na Hein has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.