Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire
CEANNANUS MOR, Meath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 122 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 55 girls, 67 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17213L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Mhuire National School Moynalty is a vibrant primary school that prides itself on offering a forward‑thinking, environmentally conscious education. In March 2012 the school became the first in Ireland to achieve Passive House certification, providing a highly energy‑efficient, comfortable learning environment that underpins its commitment to sustainability. The school’s facilities include modern classrooms equipped with iPads, supporting a technology‑enhanced curriculum that encourages interactive and personalised learning across all year groups. A wide range of initiatives and programmes enrich the pupils’ experience, from robust sporting activities and competitions to active participation in the Green Schools Programme, where the school has earned multiple Green Flags for its ecological projects. Daily life at Scoil Mhuire is varied and engaging, with a strong emphasis on community, friendship teams and extracurricular clubs that foster social development alongside academic achievement. The school’s welcoming atmosphere and contemporary resources make it a dynamic centre for primary education in the Moynalty area.
History
A Government report of 1835 listed seven schools in Moynalty Parish, two of which stood in Moynalty Village itself: Moynalty Girls' National School, set up in 1834 over what later became Farrell's TV & Electrical Store, and Moynalty Boys' National School, above Molly Lynch's shop. Both schools were the work of the local landlord, Mr. J.A. Farrell, and ranked among the earliest schools in Ireland to come under the National Board. The two schools were amalgamated in 1939 into a new co-educational school beside the church grounds, named Scoil Mhuire, with Mr. Wilford Melville as Principal. It was blessed by Rev. William Cooney in 1940. On 29th March 2012 staff and pupils moved into a further new building, opposite the graveyard, built to Passive House standard, the first school of that standard in Ireland.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire
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 Mhuire. 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 Mhuire
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire?
Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire has 122 pupils enrolled, 55 girls and 67 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire 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 Mhuire?
Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.