Scoil Náisiúnta Ciarain Naofa
Kinvara, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 67 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 40 girls, 27 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17869Q the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Chiaráin Naofa (Doorus National School) is a rural primary school set on the scenic Doorus peninsula, just a short walk from Traught Beach and framed by the karst landscape of the Burren. The school caters for over 80 children across pre‑school and primary levels, providing a nurturing environment where pupils are respected as individuals and encouraged to reach their full potential. The curriculum follows the Irish Primary School Curriculum while placing strong emphasis on the holistic development of the whole child through a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sport, music, drama, mindfulness, coding and environmental projects in the school garden. The campus is well‑equipped with three spacious classrooms, a dedicated Special Educational Needs (S.E.T) classroom, a sensory room, an A.S.D. classroom and an indoor hall/recreational space. Outdoor facilities include a Montessori playground, a main school playground, an astro‑turf pitch and a garden. Each pupil has access to modern IT resources, with laptops or iPads provided for classroom use. A Montessori/Preschool on site also operates an early breakfast club and after‑school care, facilitating a smooth transition for younger children into the main school.
History
Scoil Chiaráin Naofa was established in 1955, replacing an earlier national school that first opened on 1 January 1852. The present building, located in the townland of Cloosh, continues a long tradition of education in the area, which is marked by historic hedge‑school sites on local maps. The school has evolved from a two‑teacher rural school to a modern, inclusive institution serving the Dubhras community and surrounding townlands.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Ciarain Naofa
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 Ciarain Naofa. 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 Ciarain Naofa
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Ciarain Naofa?
Scoil Náisiúnta Ciarain Naofa has 67 pupils enrolled, 40 girls and 27 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Ciarain Naofa a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Ciarain Naofa 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 Ciarain Naofa?
Scoil Náisiúnta Ciarain Naofa has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.