St Marys National School
Muine Bheag, Carlow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 90 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 52 girls, 38 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 11135K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Mary’s National School is a co‑educational primary school under the patronage of the Church of Ireland, welcoming children of all faiths and none. The school provides a warm, caring and friendly learning environment where pupils are encouraged to develop both academically and socially. A strong ethos of inclusion is evident through the provision of a dedicated unit for pupils with autism spectrum disorder, supported by special needs assistants, alongside four mainstream classrooms. The school benefits from modern, purpose‑built facilities opened in 2015 on the Dunleckney site. These include well‑equipped classrooms, a resource/office room, and a range of specialist spaces that support a broad curriculum. The campus also offers ample outdoor play areas, despite earlier reductions caused by temporary prefabricated classrooms, and is situated a short distance from the town of Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, making it easily accessible for the local community. A focus on holistic development is reflected in the school’s commitment to active learning, with an emphasis on nurturing curiosity, creativity and respect for diversity. Parents are encouraged to engage with the school through its active Parents’ Association and regular communication channels.
History
The origins of St. Mary’s NS date back to the 1840s in the building now known as St. Mary’s Hall. After the closure of the original Kiledmond school in the mid‑1950s, pupils transferred to Muine Bheag, and a new two‑classroom, centrally heated building was opened in June 1968, blessed by the Right Rev. Dr. H.R. McAdoo. Subsequent expansions added an office/resource room (1996) and several prefabricated classrooms (1999, 2003, 2005) to accommodate growing enrolment. In 2006 a project to construct a new school on the Dunleckney site was announced; after planning and funding approvals, construction began in July 2014. The new premises opened in September 2015, providing four mainstream classrooms for 95 pupils and a dedicated ASD unit, marking a significant milestone in the school’s development.
Applying to St Marys 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 Marys 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 Marys National School
How many pupils attend St Marys National School?
St Marys National School has 90 pupils enrolled, 52 girls and 38 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Marys National School a DEIS school?
No. St Marys 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 Marys National School?
St Marys National School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.