Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh
Offaly
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 108 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 52 girls, 56 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17003A the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Joseph’s National School, Moneygall, is a Catholic mixed‑primary school situated in the heart of County Offaly. With a roll of around 70 pupils and a dedicated team of five teaching staff, the school provides a well‑ordered, caring and secure environment where the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of the community are actively identified and met. The mission statement stresses a happy, inclusive atmosphere that nurtures both academic achievement and personal development. The curriculum is broad and balanced, offering dedicated lessons in sport, drawing, music, history, nature studies and mathematics. Extra‑curricular provision encourages pupils to explore creative and physical pursuits, reinforcing the school’s commitment to holistic education. In May 2016 the school was awarded the Green Flag for Energy, recognising its leadership in energy conservation and climate‑change awareness, and it continues to embed sustainable practices throughout the school day. Facilities have evolved considerably since the original one‑room building of 1851. The present campus, opened in 1935, includes multiple classrooms, a purpose‑built PE room, modern heating and insulation, and a spacious playground with a hurling field. Ongoing extensions and upgrades, such as the 1975 and 1982 additions and the 2001 special‑education classroom, ensure that the learning environment remains fit for purpose and supportive of contemporary teaching methods.
History
The school’s origins date to a letter sent on 10 July 1849 by Rev. John Egan requesting that Moneygall be brought under the National School system. A one‑room school was constructed on a leased site and opened on 3 February 1851 under teacher James Feehan, with an initial roll of 98 boys and 86 girls. By the 1920s the original building was inadequate, prompting a community‑funded project that resulted in a new school opened and blessed on 11 March 1935. Subsequent developments included the provision of a playground and hurling field, the introduction of water and electricity in the late 1960s, major extensions in 1975 (adding a classroom, PE room, toilets and teachers’ room) and 1982, and further modernisation such as central heating, insulation and a specialised classroom for special education in 2001.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh
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 Seosamh. 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 Seosamh
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh?
Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh has 108 pupils enrolled, 52 girls and 56 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh 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 Seosamh?
Scoil Náisiúnta Seosamh has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.