The Quay National School
Ballina, Mayo
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 364 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 168 girls, 196 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15257V the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Quignamanger (The Quay) National School, also known as St Oliver Plunkett NS, is a vibrant primary school in Ballina, County Mayo, catering for 364 pupils across 15 mainstream classes. The school follows a holistic, inclusive educational philosophy that seeks to nurture each child’s intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural development within a happy, secure and supportive environment. Learning is underpinned by a strong community partnership involving the Board of Management, staff, the Parents Association and the wider school community, all working together to create a positive atmosphere for pupils to thrive. The school places a particular emphasis on sport, the arts and environmental stewardship. It boasts a successful sporting programme – excelling in Cumann na mBunscol, cross‑country, football, rugby, swimming and badminton – and has earned multiple Green Schools and Active School Flags. Facilities support active travel, highlighted by a newly opened pedestrian walkway linking the Quay area to the campus. Cultural life is enriched by a thriving school choir, participation in national music events, and programmes such as Music Generation Mayo’s Ceilí Ukulele and Ceol na Óg. Digital learning is also prioritised, with all senior pupils taking part in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge and other e‑learning initiatives.
Applying to The Quay 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
View The Quay National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to The Quay National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 The Quay National School
How many pupils attend The Quay National School?
The Quay National School has 364 pupils enrolled, 168 girls and 196 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is The Quay National School a DEIS school?
No. The Quay 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 The Quay National School?
The Quay National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.