Scoil Roisin
Donegal
Key facts
- DEIS
- Gaeltacht
- Some Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 51 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 21 girls, 30 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- Some subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17328F the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
A three classroom primary school five kilometres from Dungloe in west Donegal, Scoil Roisín is co-educational and has 51 pupils. It holds DEIS status, sits in the Gaeltacht and teaches some subjects through Irish, and its ethos is Catholic. The school describes its characteristic spirit as relaxed and inclusive, and states that it seeks open and clear relationships with pupils and parents. Inclusion and equality are set out as part of both planning and daily running, and the school records itself as non discriminatory and as meeting the grounds listed in the Equal Status Act 2000 to 2004. Its stated vision includes an educationally rich setting for every pupil. Two classrooms were added in an extension completed in 2005, and further rooms followed in 2009 as staff numbers increased.
History
The original building dates from the second half of the 19th century. Paddy The Cope began school at Roshine in 1878, when Micky Neddy was the teacher. The present building was constructed in 1942 and opened in 1943, with a temporary school at Tubberkeen (Culacrick) used during the rebuilding. Big Pat Doherty of Carndonagh was the contractor and the Cope paid for the work, with labourers drawn from Dungloe, Ballybofey, Gweedore and Saltpans. Desks were supplied from Carndonagh, each seating six pupils. Crohy National School was amalgamated with Roshine in 1968 as numbers there fell, and free bus transport was provided over the three miles. Running water, indoor toilets and electric storage heaters were installed during the 1980s, and a tarmac playground, carpeting, new windows and doors followed in 1993. An extension holding two classrooms was completed in 2004 and 2005, when the older interior was refurbished and the roof replaced. More rooms were added in 2009 as staff numbers grew.
Applying to Scoil Roisin
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 Roisin. 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 Roisin
How many pupils attend Scoil Roisin?
Scoil Roisin has 51 pupils enrolled, 21 girls and 30 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Roisin a DEIS school?
Yes. Scoil Roisin 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 Roisin teach through Irish?
Partly. Scoil Roisin teaches some subjects through Irish. It is also located in a Gaeltacht area.
Illustration based on a photo by Kenneth Allen. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 2.0.