St Brendans National School
Loughrea, Galway
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 216 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15835M the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Brendan’s Boys’ National School is a Catholic primary school situated in the town of Loughrea, County Galway. It serves the local community, welcoming boys from First Class through to Sixth Class. The school works closely with its sister institution, St. Ita’s, allowing a smooth transition for younger pupils from the infant classrooms. Emphasising a balanced curriculum, St. Brendan’s delivers a broad range of subjects alongside a strong focus on personal development, ensuring each child can reach their full potential. The school prides itself on a vibrant extra‑curricular programme that includes music, sport, information technology, debating and a variety of community and national initiatives. These activities are delivered in an inclusive, cooperative spirit, fostering teamwork and confidence. Recent initiatives such as the Active School Flag and the Green School Committee highlight the school’s commitment to health, wellbeing and environmental stewardship, providing students with opportunities to engage in physical activity and sustainability projects. Facilities support this holistic approach, with dedicated spaces for classroom learning, IT resources, music practice and sports. The school’s ethos combines academic rigour with a nurturing environment, encouraging curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of learning.
Applying to St Brendans 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 Brendans 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 Brendans National School
How many pupils attend St Brendans National School?
St Brendans National School has 216 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Brendans National School a DEIS school?
No. St Brendans 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 Brendans National School?
St Brendans National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' primary school.