St Marys National School
Longford
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 352 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 179 girls, 173 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20124G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Mary’s National School is a small rural primary school situated in the village of Newtowncashel, County Longford. The school serves the local community by providing a welcoming environment for children aged 4‑12, with a strong emphasis on fostering a love of learning and personal development. Communication with families is central to the school’s ethos; it utilises the ClassDojo digital platform to share newsletters, post photos and videos of classroom activities, and send direct messages to parents, ensuring a transparent and collaborative partnership. The school’s curriculum is complemented by its involvement in a range of national initiatives, including Green Schools, the Digital School of Distinction, Creative Schools and Healthy Schools programmes. These initiatives highlight a commitment to environmental awareness, digital literacy, creative expression and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Although specific facilities are not detailed on the site, the school’s active engagement with these programmes suggests the presence of resources and spaces that support outdoor learning, technology integration and creative arts.
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 352 pupils enrolled, 179 girls and 173 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Marys National School a DEIS school?
Yes. St Marys 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 Marys National School?
St Marys National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.