St Baoithin National School
Mullingar, Westmeath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 57 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 29 girls, 28 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18262G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Baoithín’s National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in the village of Loughanavally, County Westmeath. It provides a full junior, middle and senior programme within a close‑knit rural community of roughly 300 residents. The school places a strong emphasis on holistic development, encouraging pupils to engage in a wide range of extracurricular activities such as talent shows, community singing, art competitions and fundraising events. These initiatives foster confidence, creativity and a sense of belonging, while the curriculum follows the Irish primary syllabus, supporting literacy, numeracy and personal development. The campus has been progressively expanded to meet growing enrolments. An original building opened in the early 1960s, with a dedicated junior classroom added in 2005 and a further standalone classroom and resource room completed in 2012. Additional provisions include a learning‑support/staff room, a safe set‑down area for parents and staff parking, and modern teaching facilities across the three classroom clusters. The school’s active participation in programmes such as Active Schools Week highlights its commitment to health, wellbeing and community partnership.
History
Construction of the school began in 1957 and the building was first occupied in 1962. In 1999 the school was dedicated to St Baoithín, a 7th‑century saint who founded one of the first monasteries in the area. An extension added a junior classroom in 2003/04, officially opened on 8 June 2005 by Ms Síle De Valera TD. A third mainstream teacher was appointed in September 2006, prompting the addition of a prefab classroom. Following safety concerns, a Summer Works grant secured a dedicated parking and set‑down zone in the 2009/10 academic year. A new standalone classroom and resource room replaced the prefab in 2012, opened by Bishop Michael Smith in June 2012.
Applying to St Baoithin 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 St Baoithin 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 St Baoithin National School
How many pupils attend St Baoithin National School?
St Baoithin National School has 57 pupils enrolled, 29 girls and 28 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Baoithin National School a DEIS school?
No. St Baoithin 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 St Baoithin National School?
St Baoithin National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.