St Ciarans National School
ROOTY CROSS OLDTOWN, Roscommon
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 107 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 63 girls, 44 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19368E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Ciaran’s National School is a co‑educational, Catholic primary school situated in the rural village of Baylin, about 5 km east of Athlone. The school provides a caring, well‑ordered environment that addresses the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of its pupils. While rooted in a Catholic ethos, the school recognises and respects all other religions and actively promotes gender equity, self‑esteem and responsibility. A strong emphasis is placed on parental partnership, Gaelic language use and the professional development of staff, ensuring a supportive community for every child. The campus blends historic and modern facilities. The original building dates from 1949 with a 1994 extension, and recent expansions have added three state‑of‑the‑art classrooms in 2013 and two further large classrooms plus a new staffroom in 2021. These spaces support a broad curriculum that includes sport, wellbeing, creative arts and environmental initiatives such as the Green Schools programme. The school’s crest, featuring the historic Twyford (Baylin) Cross, reflects its local heritage, while the motto “Knowledge and Respect” and the purple‑and‑yellow colours encapsulate its commitment to academic excellence and mutual respect.
History
The school was originally located a mile nearer Athlone in Lower Warren, with the first building erected in 1949. An extension was added in 1994, followed by the construction of three large, state‑of‑the‑art classrooms in 2013. In 2021 two additional large classrooms and a new staffroom were completed, reflecting the steady increase in pupil numbers as surrounding housing developments expanded.
Applying to St Ciarans 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 Ciarans 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 Ciarans National School
How many pupils attend St Ciarans National School?
St Ciarans National School has 107 pupils enrolled, 63 girls and 44 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Ciarans National School a DEIS school?
No. St Ciarans 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 Ciarans National School?
St Ciarans National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.