St Columbas National School
Inishturk, Mayo
Key facts
- DEIS
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 3 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13174H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Columba’s National School is a small, co‑educational primary school located on the remote island of Inishturk in County Mayo. As a DEIS Rural‑designated institution, it benefits from additional support aimed at promoting equity and inclusion for all pupils. The school’s Catholic patronage informs its ethos, embedding values of community, respect and spiritual development within the curriculum while delivering the full Irish primary syllabus. With an enrolment of just five children (June 2021) and a two‑teacher team, the school offers exceptionally low pupil‑to‑teacher ratios, allowing for highly personalised instruction and close monitoring of each child’s progress. The intimate setting fosters a strong sense of belonging and encourages collaborative learning, outdoor activities and the preservation of local heritage, which are integral to the island community’s way of life. Despite its modest size, St. Columba’s provides a safe, nurturing environment equipped with the essential resources for early years education, including dedicated classroom spaces, learning materials suited to a multi‑age setting, and access to the wider parish’s facilities for extracurricular and faith‑based events.
Applying to St Columbas 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 Columbas 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 Columbas National School
How many pupils attend St Columbas National School?
St Columbas National School has 3 pupils enrolled. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Columbas National School a DEIS school?
Yes. St Columbas National School is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of St Columbas National School?
St Columbas National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by Colin Park. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 2.0.