Scoil Mhichil
Castleshane, Monaghan
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 60 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 31 girls, 29 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16954C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Mhichil is a mixed primary school in the townland of Rackwallace, near Castleshane in County Monaghan. The school serves the Ardaghey area and has an enrolment of 60 pupils. It operates under a Catholic ethos. Three mainstream class teachers are based at the school, along with a learning support teacher who is shared with neighbouring schools. A secretary and caretaker are employed part-time. The school building retains its traditional exterior while the interior has been upgraded over time. The grounds are monitored by CCTV and a security access system is fitted. Pupils take part in activities such as sports days, school tours, music and drama productions, and charitable fundraisers. The school has a student council and a parents' association. The ancient Rackwallace graveyard lies adjacent to the school, and Castleshane Woods, a former landlord estate, is nearby.
History
St. Michael's N.S. was established in 1933 following the amalgamation of two local schools, Lisleitrim N.S. and Annaglough N.S. The building was constructed on land acquired from the Clarke family of Rackwallace, with stone sourced from a nearby field. Originally three classrooms, a partition was later removed to create two large rooms. An extension added a lunch room and outdoor toilets, and the installation of flush toilets and running water was a significant improvement at the time. A later extension provided indoor toilets, a staffroom, office and storage. A new heating system was installed under the Summer Works Scheme 2010, and the roof was replaced under the 2010 Emergency Works Scheme. The first principal was Master Dan Mooney, formerly of Annaglough N.S. Pupils from Rakeeragh N.S. transferred to the school in 1966.
Applying to Scoil Mhichil
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 Mhichil. 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 Mhichil
How many pupils attend Scoil Mhichil?
Scoil Mhichil has 60 pupils enrolled, 31 girls and 29 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Mhichil a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Mhichil 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 Mhichil?
Scoil Mhichil has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.