Scoil Na Gceithre Maol
Béal an Átha, Mayo
Key facts
- DEIS
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 141 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 73 girls, 68 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20084U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maol is a full‑Irish primary school situated in the Beltane area, catering for roughly 122 pupils from junior infants to sixth class. The school opened officially in mid‑September 1998 under the patronage of the Foras Pátrúnachta and receives funding from the Department of Education and Skills together with the Primary Curriculum. Its educational ethos centres on delivering the national curriculum entirely through Irish, fostering fluency and confidence in the language while promoting a strong sense of cultural identity. The campus provides a range of modern facilities to support a broad curriculum. Outside there is a large play area, a football pitch and a sports hall, while the indoor provision includes numerous classrooms, two dedicated learning‑support rooms, a school library and a music room. These spaces enable the school to offer a balanced programme of academic, sporting and artistic activities, encouraging pupils to develop holistically and to engage actively with both the Irish language and wider community life.
History
Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maol was founded in 1998 by a group of dedicated individuals passionate about Irish‑medium education. Officially opened in mid‑September 1998, the school was established under the patronage of the Foras Pátrúnachta and has grown steadily ever since, expanding its pupil roll and facilities while maintaining its core mission of providing high‑quality, Irish‑language primary education.
Applying to Scoil Na Gceithre Maol
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 Na Gceithre Maol. 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 Na Gceithre Maol
How many pupils attend Scoil Na Gceithre Maol?
Scoil Na Gceithre Maol has 141 pupils enrolled, 73 girls and 68 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Na Gceithre Maol a DEIS school?
Yes. Scoil Na Gceithre Maol 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.
Does Scoil Na Gceithre Maol teach through Irish?
Yes. Scoil Na Gceithre Maol teaches all subjects through Irish.