Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride
Moneygold, Sligo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 35 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 12 girls, 23 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17725P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Carns National School is a small rural primary school situated on the N15 between Grange and Cliffoney, County Sligo. The school serves 38 pupils across two classrooms and a dedicated SET (Special Educational Needs) room, staffed by three permanent teachers. Housed in a brand‑new building, the premises feature spacious, well‑lit classrooms and extensive indoor and outdoor play areas, providing a safe and stimulating environment for young learners. The curriculum follows the Irish Primary Curriculum with a strong emphasis on holistic development, integrating subjects such as science, art, music, ICT, drama and history/geography through dedicated activity programmes. Recent English Curriculum Inspection and Whole‑School Evaluation reports (2024, 2021, 2009) highlight the school’s commitment to high standards of teaching and learning, while the modern facilities support a range of extracurricular activities that foster creativity, physical wellbeing and community involvement.
History
- 1864: The original Carns School was constructed with funding from the Education Commission and Lord Palmerston; the building now serves as a private residence. - 1951: A new school opened on 19 November, named St Brigid’s School, Carns, costing £4,000 and providing two classrooms for 64 pupils, along with playgrounds and a shed for wet days. - 1972: The Department of Education announced closure, but strong parental protest led to the school operating privately for several weeks before the Department reinstated it, appointing John Kelly as principal after Christmas 1973. - 2008: Emergency funding enabled a complete refurbishment of the school building, contingent on the community raising 5 % of the cost (€16,000). A successful fundraising campaign, including a “Push the Extension” event, funded the modernisation and official reopening of the upgraded facilities.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride
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 Bhride'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 Bhride. 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 Bhride
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride?
Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride has 35 pupils enrolled, 12 girls and 23 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride 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 Bhride?
Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.