Scoil Naomh Fiachra Illistrin
Letterkenny, Donegal
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 519 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 234 girls, 285 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 12077E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Naomh Fiachra Illistrin is a co‑educational national school situated in the townland of Illistrin, Conwal and Leck, Letterkenny, County Donegal. Under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Raphoe, the school serves a diverse community of approximately 540 pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. The ethos promotes a friendly, inclusive atmosphere where tolerance, understanding and appreciation of others are core values. Learning is framed around the belief that children thrive when they are engaged, challenged and excited, with a focus on developing each pupil’s talents through a broad, balanced curriculum. The school places equal emphasis on academic, cultural and sporting excellence. A wide range of extra‑curricular activities is offered, including swimming, soccer, Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, athletics, rounders, Irish dancing and debating, providing ample opportunities for personal growth beyond the classroom. Facilities have expanded over time, most recently with a 2004 extension adding sixteen modern classrooms, support and ancillary rooms, complemented by prefabricated classrooms to accommodate continued growth. The campus also includes a hall, upgraded toilet facilities and dedicated spaces for sports and the arts, supporting a holistic educational experience.
History
The original school in Illistrin opened in 1880 as a single‑teacher institution. In the 1940s toilets and a small hall were added. By 1998 the school accommodated 147 pupils and five teachers, and rapid enrolment growth followed the expansion of the Letterkenny urban area. The name Illistrin derives from the Irish *feileastram* (yellow iris), reflected in the school crest. Development accelerated from 2002, leading to a major extension in 2004 that provided sixteen new classrooms, support rooms and ancillary facilities, with additional prefabricated classrooms added later. Today the school educates around 540 pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
Applying to Scoil Naomh Fiachra Illistrin
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 Fiachra Illistrin. 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 Fiachra Illistrin
How many pupils attend Scoil Naomh Fiachra Illistrin?
Scoil Naomh Fiachra Illistrin has 519 pupils enrolled, 234 girls and 285 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Naomh Fiachra Illistrin a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Naomh Fiachra Illistrin 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 Naomh Fiachra Illistrin?
Scoil Naomh Fiachra Illistrin has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.