St Dympnas Special School
Ballina, Mayo
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 33 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 13 girls, 20 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19387I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Dymphna’s Special School in Ballina, Co. Mayo, provides education for pupils aged 5‑18 with a mild learning need, covering both primary and post‑primary programmes. The school delivers a broad and balanced curriculum within a supportive, caring environment, tailoring teaching to the individual requirements of each child. Emphasis is placed on the development of academic skills alongside social, life and digital competencies, with daily social‑skills sessions, participation in the Active Schools and Digital Schools initiatives, and a strong focus on music and creative expression. The campus features purpose‑built, spacious classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards and a mobile smartboard, as well as specialist facilities including a multi‑sensory room, speech‑therapy, physiotherapy and occupational‑therapy rooms, and a dedicated woodwork studio with a specialist teacher. A large enclosed playground offers a range of equipment such as bikes, go‑karts and a trampoline, while a well‑equipped home‑economics kitchen and on‑site chef provide hot meals daily. Each pupil has access to personal digital devices, supporting the school’s commitment to integrating technology across all areas of learning.
History
The school relocated to a new, purpose‑built building on the former site in 2009, expanding its capacity to serve pupils with mild learning needs from North County Mayo and West County Sligo. It now operates two primary classes and three post‑primary classes, continuing the legacy of the original institution while offering modern facilities and specialised support services.
Applying to St Dympnas Special 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 Dympnas Special 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 Dympnas Special School
How many pupils attend St Dympnas Special School?
St Dympnas Special School has 33 pupils enrolled, 13 girls and 20 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Dympnas Special School a DEIS school?
No. St Dympnas Special 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 Dympnas Special School?
St Dympnas Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.