Scoil Mhuire
LETTERKENNY, Donegal
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 166 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 75 girls, 91 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18371L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Scoil Mhuire Creeslough is a rural Catholic primary school serving the community of Creeslough and the surrounding hinterland in north‑west Donegal. The school provides a child‑centred, welcoming environment for pupils aged four to thirteen, offering a broad and balanced curriculum that integrates academic learning with religious education, cultural activities and sport. Emphasis is placed on the gospel values of respect, honesty, tolerance, justice, kindness and love, fostering a caring ethos that encourages lifelong learning and positive attitudes towards education. The campus has expanded considerably since its opening, now featuring a modern two‑room extension with a specialised Special Education Teaching Room, several prefabricated classrooms added between 2015 and 2020, and a dedicated Special Class for autism introduced in September 2023. Facilities support a wide range of extracurricular pursuits, including green‑school initiatives, active‑school programmes, Gaelic games, and community‑linked projects. Strong links with parents, the local parish and community organisations underpin a supportive network that enhances pupils’ social and personal development alongside their academic progress.
History
Scoil Mhuire Creeslough opened in 1960 as a three‑teacher school under Principal Tadhg Gallagher, with staff Mamie Mc Clean (née Farrell) and Mary Colhoun. In the 1970s the nearby Drimnaraw and Kildarragh National Schools were amalgamated with Scoil Mhuire. A two‑room extension was added in 1976, followed by a library prefab in 1995. Further prefabs were installed in September 2019 and October 2020 to accommodate growing enrolments. A state‑of‑the‑art extension comprising two classrooms and a Special Education Teaching Room opened in February 2023, and the first Special Class for autism commenced in September 2023. The school now educates 176 pupils with a staff of 12 teachers and five Special Needs Assistants.
Applying to Scoil 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
View Scoil Mhuire's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Scoil Mhuire. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Mhuire
How many pupils attend Scoil Mhuire?
Scoil Mhuire has 166 pupils enrolled, 75 girls and 91 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Mhuire a DEIS school?
Yes. Scoil Mhuire is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Scoil Mhuire?
Scoil Mhuire has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.