St Garvans National School
Rathmullan, Donegal
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 33 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 15 girls, 18 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16850N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Garvan’s National School is a small, rural primary school situated in Drumhalla, approximately 7 km from the coastal town of Rathmullan and 11 km from Kerrykeel. The school positions itself as a safe, inclusive and creative hub of learning for children in Drumhalla and the surrounding hinterland. Its ethos emphasises community involvement, active participation and environmental stewardship, as demonstrated by its Green Flag and Active Flag programmes, regular film‑festival events and a strong focus on healthy eating and wellbeing. The school operates a structured daily routine, welcoming pupils at 9.20 am and releasing them at 3.00 pm, and provides a clear uniform policy that promotes a sense of belonging. Facilities support a range of activities, from classroom learning to extracurricular initiatives such as the Active Break Challenge and local quizzes. Communication with families is facilitated through a dedicated Facebook page, newsletters and an e‑payment system, ensuring parents are kept informed of school life and events.
Applying to St Garvans 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 Garvans 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 Garvans National School
How many pupils attend St Garvans National School?
St Garvans National School has 33 pupils enrolled, 15 girls and 18 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Garvans National School a DEIS school?
Yes. St Garvans 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 Garvans National School?
St Garvans National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.