Scoil Naomh Cholmcille
Donegal
Key facts
- DEIS
- Gaeltacht
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 18 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 4 girls, 14 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 05164I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Craigtown, near Carndonagh in Co. Donegal, is the setting for Scoil Naomh Colmcille, a co-educational primary school whose patron body is the Diocese of Derry. Pupils come from Carndonagh and the wider Inishowen area, and teaching takes place in seven classrooms. The ethos is Catholic, and the school states that other religions are recognised and that every family is received into the community. 'Ní Neart go Cur le Chéile', rendered by the school as 'There is No Strength Without Unity', serves as the motto. Outdoor space includes a playground laid with artificial grass, tarmac and bark, playhouses, 2 football pitches timetabled across the classes, and a wooden gazebo used for outdoor lessons. A garden that started with 4 raised beds has since grown to 10, and a polytunnel was added so that classes can plant, grow and harvest. Walks around the school and across a local landmark known as the Rodden are used for nature study. Each week pupils from every class level gather over a hot drink, an occasion used to recognise values such as determination, resilience, kindness and empathy.
History
The school's own account traces its beginnings to the 1880s, when it operated from a one-room schoolhouse at a time when national education was spreading through rural Ireland and giving local children access to basic literacy and numeracy. For much of that period it was called Craigtown National School, and the present name of Scoil Naomh Colmcille came later. The original single room has given way to a larger building with modern classrooms and equipment. A 150th anniversary was marked in 2006, and the Craigtown National School Committee produced a book for the occasion, 'My Donegal Glen, Now-Then', gathering recollections of school life in the area.
Applying to Scoil Naomh Cholmcille
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 Naomh Cholmcille. 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 Naomh Cholmcille
How many pupils attend Scoil Naomh Cholmcille?
Scoil Naomh Cholmcille has 18 pupils enrolled, 4 girls and 14 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Naomh Cholmcille a DEIS school?
Yes. Scoil Naomh Cholmcille 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 Naomh Cholmcille teach through Irish?
Yes. Scoil Naomh Cholmcille teaches all subjects through Irish. It is also located in a Gaeltacht area.