Scoil Náisiúnta Cnoc Mionna
Ballymote, Sligo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 52 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 22 girls, 30 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18334F the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Naisiunta Cnoc Mionna is a small, rural, co‑educational Catholic primary school situated about three miles east of Ballymote, Co. Sligo. The school’s ethos is to foster the full and harmonious development of each child’s intellectual, emotional, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs. A dedicated team of teachers and support staff work together to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where a love of learning is nurtured from the earliest years. The campus offers spacious, state‑of‑the‑art classrooms and extensive outdoor play areas, providing ample opportunity for both structured learning and free play. The school day runs from 9.30 am to 3.10 pm, with a mid‑morning break and a short lunch period, allowing a balanced routine that supports concentration and wellbeing. Regular community activities, such as arts and crafts, music sessions and local excursions, enrich the curriculum and strengthen ties with families and the wider parish community.
History
The original Knockminna National School opened in 1885 a short distance from the present site and later fell into dereliction. A new two‑classroom building was constructed in 1960 by a former pupil and opened in November 1961, replacing the old school. Extensions and refurbishments were carried out in 2001, a temporary prefab was added in 2007 (later replaced by a permanent extension completed in March 2013), and a further expansion in 2017 increased the total number of classrooms to four. The school participated in the 1998‑2000 Sligo Whole School Programme aimed at tackling disadvantage.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Cnoc Mionna
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 Cnoc Mionna. 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 Cnoc Mionna
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Cnoc Mionna?
Scoil Náisiúnta Cnoc Mionna has 52 pupils enrolled, 22 girls and 30 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Cnoc Mionna a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Cnoc Mionna 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 Cnoc Mionna?
Scoil Náisiúnta Cnoc Mionna has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.