Scoil Bride
Moylough, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 20 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 15 girls, 5 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18309G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Cooloo National School is a co‑educational primary school that provides education for children from infants through to sixth class. The school operates under a Catholic ethos, guided by its mission statement and the “Grow In Love” programme for religious education. A strong sense of community underpins daily life, with close cooperation between staff, pupils and parents aimed at ensuring every child feels valued and can reach their full potential. The curriculum is delivered in a safe, happy environment that promotes both academic achievement and personal development. The school’s facilities include modern classrooms equipped with Chromebooks acquired through a 2021 grant under the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan, supporting learners at risk of digital disadvantage. Uniforms consist of a green tracksuit and yellow polo shirt, and the school encourages healthy lunches while prohibiting sweets, fizzy drinks and crisps. Environmental responsibility is a core value, with initiatives to minimise waste and encourage pupils to take home their lunch packaging. The school day runs from 9.20 am, ending at 2.00 pm for infants and 3.00 pm for older classes, providing a structured yet nurturing routine.
History
The present school, Saint Bridget’s National School Cooloo, was constructed between 1959 and 1960 and is believed to be the fourth educational establishment in the Cooloo area. Earlier schools included a hedge school behind Tom Fahy’s house, a thatched building in the old schoolyard, and a mass‑concrete school built in 1896 that featured four classrooms, cloakrooms, and a communal dry toilet. The current building was the first in the locality to use cavity walls and incorporated innovative features such as steel‑conduit electrical wiring and a well‑bored water supply. The construction was undertaken by James Farragher and Sons, with the foreman Austin Winston, and the school opened in 1960, continuing the tradition of serving the local community.
Applying to Scoil Bride
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 Bride. 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 Bride
How many pupils attend Scoil Bride?
Scoil Bride has 20 pupils enrolled, 15 girls and 5 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Bride a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Bride 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 Bride?
Scoil Bride has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.