Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire
Cliffoney, Sligo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 15 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 8 girls, 7 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15337T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Cliffoney National School is a small, five‑teacher primary school situated in the heart of the village of Cliffoney, County Sligo. The school promotes a warm, welcoming climate rooted in a Catholic ethos while openly embracing children of all faiths and backgrounds. Its educational philosophy centres on nurturing well‑rounded, confident and caring young people, offering a range of opportunities for pupils to discover and develop their talents, from music and drama to a variety of sports. Academic progress is monitored through regular standardised tests in literacy and numeracy, with results communicated to parents using STen scores. The school benefits from a modern, spacious building equipped with excellent IT facilities, a multi‑sensory room and an organic vegetable garden that supports experiential learning. Outdoor provision includes a large playground and a football pitch, and pupils can take part in coaching across many sports. Additional support structures such as a book‑rental service, an active Parents’ Association, an early‑morning drop‑off service and an after‑school activity club run by Acorn Montessori enhance the overall learning environment and community involvement.
History
The present school was built in 1914 as a replacement for two earlier schools in Cliffoney, both erected by Henry John Temple, who later became Lord Palmerston and served as British Prime Minister. The Boys' school had stood on the site now occupied by Cliffoney Hall, while the Girls' school was on the upper floor of what is now known as the McArthur home. The two schools were boycotted by the Parish priest at first, until Catholic teachers were appointed to teach in them. The new building was a four-roomed mixed school, though classes were not mixed, and Master McHugh was its first Principal. Mullaghmore School shut its doors in 1972, sending its 13 pupils to Cliffoney. The wooden partition separating boys and girls was removed in 1991, the year the school was also extended and acquired a field behind the health centre. Major refurbishment brought two new classrooms and a staffroom in 2007. The school marked its Centenary in October 2014, an occasion attended by President Higgins.
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.
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
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 15 pupils enrolled, 8 girls and 7 boys. That makes it smaller than 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.