St Brendans Annaghdown
COR AN DOLA, Galway
Key facts
- Gaeltacht
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 129 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 56 girls, 73 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18163E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Naomh Brendán, Annaghdown is a Gaeltacht Irish‑medium primary school situated on the shores of Lough Corrib in County Galway. The school caters for approximately 130 pupils and is staffed by a team of nine teachers, supported by three Special Needs Assistants and a language assistant. Irish is the language of everyday instruction, with the early‑immersion policy meaning that English is introduced only from First Class. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on holistic development, fostering high academic standards while nurturing cultural identity and community spirit. In recent years the school has been recognised as a Creative School through the Arts Council of Ireland’s Creative Schools programme. This has enabled a range of artistic collaborations, including workshops with professional artists, a permanent glass installation on the front porch, and performances by the Galway Community Circus. The school’s creative ethos extends to student‑led projects in science, technology, music, drama and sport, encouraging pupils to explore, make and engage actively with their local community.
Applying to St Brendans Annaghdown
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 Brendans Annaghdown. 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 Brendans Annaghdown
How many pupils attend St Brendans Annaghdown?
St Brendans Annaghdown has 129 pupils enrolled, 56 girls and 73 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Brendans Annaghdown a DEIS school?
No. St Brendans Annaghdown 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.
Does St Brendans Annaghdown teach through Irish?
Yes. St Brendans Annaghdown teaches all subjects through Irish. It is also located in a Gaeltacht area.