St Francis National School
Barnesmore, Donegal
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 159 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 77 girls, 82 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 09660R the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Francis’ National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in Barnesmore, Donegal Town, County Donegal. The school’s ethos centres on creating a warm, caring environment where pupils are encouraged to develop self‑confidence, independence and respect for others. Learning is personalised; the staff aim to discover each child’s talents, interests and gifts and to build a curriculum that is both rich and engaging. Emphasis is placed on imagination alongside knowledge, reflecting the belief that imagination “embraces the entire world”. The school offers a broad range of activities that complement the academic programme. Facilities support physical education and active lifestyles through the Active School Flag initiatives, including regular physical activity sessions and partnerships with local organisations. Extra‑curricular opportunities such as a school choir, student council and participation in Gaelic games further enrich the pupil experience and foster community spirit.
Applying to St Francis 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Francis 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 Francis National School
How many pupils attend St Francis National School?
St Francis National School has 159 pupils enrolled, 77 girls and 82 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Francis National School a DEIS school?
No. St Francis 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 Francis National School?
St Francis National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.