St. Josephs National School
Castlebar, Mayo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 111 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 51 girls, 60 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13152U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Joseph’s National School, Derrywash, is a co‑educational primary school serving the Castlebar area of County Mayo. The school welcomes children of all denominations and aims to nurture the spiritual, intellectual, physical and social development of each pupil. Learning is organised around a structured school day that begins at 8:50 am and finishes at 2:30 pm (with junior and senior infants ending at 1:30 pm), incorporating two twenty‑minute breaks to support concentration and wellbeing. The campus combines modern facilities with inclusive provision. The two‑storey building offers full accessibility via two elevators and houses five mainstream classrooms together with a dedicated autism class, supported by specialist‑education teachers, a language support teacher and additional learning assistants. Classrooms are equipped with interactive Smart Boards, laptops and iPads, while the outdoor area provides two spacious playgrounds and a football pitch. These resources enable a contemporary, technology‑enhanced curriculum that encourages creativity, numeracy and collaborative learning across all year groups.
History
The school’s origins date back to October 1887 when it operated from a single‑room building with an open fireplace. Over the ensuing century the premises were repeatedly renovated and expanded to meet growing enrolment and evolving educational needs. A major milestone was the opening of a new, ultra‑modern school building, officially blessed by Archbishop Michael Neary on 14 March 2011. This contemporary facility reflects the school’s commitment to providing a high‑quality learning environment while honouring its long‑standing tradition of community support and academic achievement.
Applying to St. Josephs 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
View St. Josephs National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St. Josephs National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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. Josephs National School
How many pupils attend St. Josephs National School?
St. Josephs National School has 111 pupils enrolled, 51 girls and 60 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Josephs National School a DEIS school?
No. St. Josephs 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. Josephs National School?
St. Josephs National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.