Shrule National School
Mayo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 99 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 55 girls, 44 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16984L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Joseph’s National School, Shrule, Co. Mayo, is a co‑educational, Catholic primary school that serves the local community with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and progressive teaching. The school provides a well‑ordered, caring and secure environment where pupils are encouraged to develop confidence and reach their full potential. A balanced curriculum addresses the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of each child, and the school actively promotes gender equity, respect for the environment and responsible citizenship. The educational approach is centred on high standards of teaching and learning, with particular focus on literacy, numeracy and creative expression through language, movement, art and music. Strong links between home and school are fostered through regular communication and parent‑teacher meetings, reinforcing a vibrant school community. The daily timetable runs from 9.20 am, with a lunch break at 1.00 pm, and closing times of 2.00 pm for infants and 3.00 pm for older pupils.
History
Records indicate that a private school existed in Shrule in the early 19th century, described at the time as a modest “cabin, a hovel, no better than a hedge school”. By 1839 a local school employed two teachers, the master Richard Flannelly and his wife Bridget, whose salaries were partially funded by Mrs Kirwan, the landlord’s wife. In 1857 a new school building was erected on the banks of the Black River on land donated by the Kirwan family; the master at that time was Daniel O Connell, formerly of Rathmines, Dublin. The present school continues this long tradition of community‑based education.
Applying to Shrule National School
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 Shrule National School. 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 Shrule National School
How many pupils attend Shrule National School?
Shrule National School has 99 pupils enrolled, 55 girls and 44 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Shrule National School a DEIS school?
No. Shrule National School 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 Shrule National School?
Shrule National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.