St Patricks
Longford
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 63 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 31 girls, 32 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19975C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Patrick’s National School in Ballinamuck, County Longford, is a co‑educational Catholic primary school catering for children from Junior Infants to 6th Class. The school provides a nurturing, inclusive environment that promotes lifelong learning, moral development and active citizenship. Its ethos stresses a welcoming, tolerant and safe atmosphere where pupils are encouraged to develop academically, spiritually, physically, socially and emotionally. A strong emphasis is placed on collaborative partnership with parents and the wider community, fostering a “village” approach to education. The curriculum is delivered by a team of teachers, including mainstream, learning‑support and shared‑resource staff, ensuring that each child’s individual needs are met. The school’s vision and mission focus on rounded education – integrating literacy, numeracy, music, sport and Catholic values – and on building confidence, courage (misneach) and resilience. Extracurricular initiatives such as the Active School, Green Flag and Food Dudes programmes further enrich pupil experience and promote health, environmental stewardship and community involvement.
History
St Patrick’s National School opened its doors in January 2002 following the amalgamation of Gaigue National School and Kiltycreevagh National School. The school occupies the former Céard Scoil site at Gaigue Cross, a post‑primary institution that ceased operation in 1974 when it merged into Moyne Community School. Since its establishment, the school has grown from an initial enrolment of 74 pupils to a current roll of approximately 84 pupils.
Applying to St Patricks
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 Patricks. 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 Patricks
How many pupils attend St Patricks?
St Patricks has 63 pupils enrolled, 31 girls and 32 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Patricks a DEIS school?
No. St Patricks 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 Patricks?
St Patricks has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.