St Patricks National School
Calry, Sligo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 182 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 87 girls, 95 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19942K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Patrick’s National School is a co‑educational primary school under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Elphin, serving children from junior infants through to 6th class. The school places a strong emphasis on personalised learning, recognising that each child’s educational journey is unique. Early intervention, close partnership with parents and external agencies, and a child‑focused, respectful environment are central to its ethos, fostering confidence, self‑esteem and a culture of gratitude. A broad curriculum is complemented by a wide range of extracurricular activities, encouraging the application of classroom skills to real‑life situations. The campus benefits from a 2005 extension that added three modern classrooms, a purpose‑built room, a well‑equipped library and a new staffroom. The library houses a computer laboratory with twenty PCs, a server, data projector, interactive whiteboard and colour photocopier, while each classroom is fully networked and three already feature touch‑screen panels, with plans to upgrade all classrooms. Additional facilities include a relaxation room, a traditional garden, a polytunnel for vegetable growing, and an emerging outdoor woodland classroom developed with the help of local IT architecture students.
History
St. Patrick’s NS, Calry was built in 1989 following the amalgamation of Dunally NS and Calry NS, creating a mixed rural school situated approximately three miles outside Sligo town. In 2005 the school expanded with three new classrooms, a purpose room, library, staffroom and ancillary accommodation. The library was later enhanced, through the Parent’s Association, with a computer laboratory and extensive ICT resources. Ongoing developments include the installation of touch‑panel technology in classrooms and the redesign of an outdoor woodland classroom.
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 182 pupils enrolled, 87 girls and 95 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Patricks National School a DEIS school?
No. St Patricks 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 Patricks National School?
St Patricks National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.