St Patricks National School
LIFFORD, Donegal
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 162 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 71 girls, 91 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16054M the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Murlog, outside Lifford in Co. Donegal, is where St. Patrick's National School is based, a Catholic primary school for girls and boys with the Bishop of Derry as patron. It carries DEIS status and enrolment stands at 162. Mainstream classes run from Junior Infants to Sixth Class, and an autism class named Coiscéimeanna operates there as well. There are 11 teachers, 7 of them in mainstream classrooms and the rest in special education, plus a home school liaison post shared with a neighbouring school, 5 full-time special needs assistants and part-time cleaning and caretaking cover. Chess and Lego clubs run for pupils, and the Roots of Empathy and Aistear programmes are in use. A Green Flag has been awarded and the school takes part in Active Schools. Irish language activity includes a Féis Muirleach of poetry held in the school and a concert for Seachtain na Gaeilge. Pupils have competed in regional athletics at the Finn Valley centre, and in 2022 they won sections of a young writers competition run by the Rotary Club in Strabane and Lifford. Its stated ethos is one of working together across the school community.
Applying to St Patricks 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 Patricks 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 Patricks National School
How many pupils attend St Patricks National School?
St Patricks National School has 162 pupils enrolled, 71 girls and 91 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Patricks National School a DEIS school?
Yes. St Patricks 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 Patricks National School?
St Patricks National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.