St Michael's National School Woodbrook
Carrick-on-Shannon, Roscommon
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 24 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 14 girls, 10 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 05220P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Michael’s National School, Woodbrook is a small rural primary school situated in the parish of Croghan, just five minutes from Carrick‑on‑Shannon in the Roscommon countryside. The school operates with two teachers and a shared support teacher, catering for approximately 25 pupils from infants through to sixth class. Its educational ethos is firmly rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition, aiming to foster the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual development of each child while encouraging a living relationship with God and the wider community. The school day runs from 9.25 am to 2.10 pm for infants and to 3.10 pm for older classes, with a healthy eating policy that includes packed lunches for the first break and an optional Hot Meals Programme for the second break. The campus embraces a strong environmental focus. A historic school garden houses chickens, rabbits and a pollinator area for bees, and a poly‑tunnel is used to grow vegetables and flowers. These initiatives have earned the school multiple garden awards and its ninth Green Flag (May 2024) under the Green Schools’ Scheme, as well as fair‑trade school status. Sporting life is vibrant, with recent successes in Cumann na mBunscol and primary school soccer competitions, reflecting a balanced emphasis on both academic and extracurricular achievement. Transport options include a local Link Bus and a KinderKare before‑ and after‑school service, encouraging walking, cycling and car‑pooling in line with the school’s sustainability goals. The school’s motto, “Cherishing the Past and Challenging the Future,” underpins its commitment to preserving its 1857 heritage while providing a forward‑looking, inclusive learning environment.
History
The school was constructed in 1857 by Major John Kirkwood of the Woodbrook estate to educate the children of his tenants and workers, and he also sent his own children there. Over 162 years later it remains the last standing remnant of that original legacy, continuing to serve the local community as a small, two‑teacher primary school.
Applying to St Michael's National School Woodbrook
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 Michael's National School Woodbrook. 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 Michael's National School Woodbrook
How many pupils attend St Michael's National School Woodbrook?
St Michael's National School Woodbrook has 24 pupils enrolled, 14 girls and 10 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Michael's National School Woodbrook a DEIS school?
No. St Michael's National School Woodbrook 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 Michael's National School Woodbrook?
St Michael's National School Woodbrook has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.