St. Catherine's National School
Ballinasloe, Galway
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 117 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 48 girls, 69 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17613E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Catherine’s National School is a vibrant primary school located in the historic village of Aughrim, about 7 km from Ballinasloe. The school caters for 117 pupils and provides a balanced staffing structure that includes mainstream teachers, support staff and two Special Needs Assistants, ensuring that every child receives personalised attention. The learning environment is underpinned by a Christian ethos that promotes love, respect and tolerance, and the school’s mission is to nurture both personal and academic growth in a safe and welcoming setting. The school benefits from a newly‑completed modern building and high‑speed broadband connectivity delivered through the Department of Education’s School Broadband Programme, supporting contemporary teaching and digital learning. A strong emphasis is placed on physical activity through the Active School initiative, with a comprehensive PE programme covering athletics, dance, gymnastics, games, aquatics and outdoor adventure. The school also offers dedicated support for children with special educational needs and runs a range of extracurricular activities that foster community spirit and holistic development.
Applying to St. Catherine's 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. Catherine's 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. Catherine's National School
How many pupils attend St. Catherine's National School?
St. Catherine's National School has 117 pupils enrolled, 48 girls and 69 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Catherine's National School a DEIS school?
No. St. Catherine's 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. Catherine's National School?
St. Catherine's National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.