School patron in Galway

Archbishop of Tuam

Schools in County Galway under this patron.

Other patrons in Galway Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora · 63 Bishop of Clonfert · 41 Educate Together · 5 Bishop of Elphin · 11 An Foras Pátrúnachta · 4 Minister for Education & Skills · 1 Galway and Roscommon ETB · 1 Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry COI · 1 Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert COI · 1

Schools: 89; of 217 in Galway
Pupils: 9,084; 31% of Galway's pupils
Average school size: 102.1; Galway: 135.5
Average class size: 20.78; Galway: 21.46

Growing and falling since 2015/16

Each school's change in pupils over 10 years, from 2015/16 to 2025/26. A change of 10% or more either way counts as growing or falling.

Every school's change

85 schools with figures for both years

Schools still filling their classes in 2015/16, and schools opened since, are listed separately.

42fell by 10% or more

21within 10%

22grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 28Down 10 to 25% · 14Within 10% · 21Up 10 to 25% · 7Up 25% or more · 15

Average class size in these schools went from 23.3 in 2015/16 to 20.7 in 2025/26. 29 of the 42 schools that fell by 10% or more kept or added classes. A fall in pupils can mean smaller classes rather than fewer children wanting places. Smaller classes

Grown most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 Glenamaddy NSGlenamaddy, Co. Galway 74 → 142 +91.9%
2 SN Muine MheaAthenry, Co. Galway 153 → 251 +64.1%
3 Newtown NSTuam, Co. Galway 117 → 172 +47.0%
4 S N Cathair GealTuam, Co. Galway 87 → 124 +42.5%
5 S N Tir an FhiaidhLeitir Móir, Co. Galway 61 → 83 +36.1%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 S N BheanainTuam, Co. Galway 66 → 31 −53.0%
2 Scoil MhuireCorr na Móna, Co. Galway 58 → 36 −37.9%
3 S N Choilm ChilleBaile na hAbhann O.P., Co. Galway 132 → 83 −37.1%
4 St Brendans N STuam, Co. Galway 61 → 39 −36.1%
5 S N Naomh FhursaHeadford, Co. Galway 155 → 100 −35.5%

Ranked by percentage change. Only schools with 50 or more pupils in 2015/16 are ranked, leaving out any still filling their classes then, because a few pupils make a big percentage in a small or new school. An amalgamation, a new school nearby or smaller classes can also explain a big rise or fall.

Newer schools

4 schools still filling their classes in 2015/16 or opened since, with 1,500 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

Trinity Primary SchoolTuam · figures start 2019/20 781
Athenry Primary SchoolAthenry · figures start 2024/25 501
Headford Primary SchoolGalway · figures start 2024/25 137
Scoil MhuireBeal an Daingin · figures start 2022/23 81

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to.

Average class size: 20.78
Mainstream classes: 430
Classes of 30 or more: 29
Schools with a class of 30+: 21

Teachers

Teachers in the 89 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.

How we count teachers

Class teachers in 2025/26: 430; Up 140 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 44%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 670; Estimate: 430 class teachers, 22 principals and deputies, 188 special education and 30 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 490; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 8 / 8; 8 schools gained a class teacher, 8 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

What parents would prefer

2,519 of the 5,241 households with children at the 71 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 18 more schools had too few answers for their own results. These are preferences, not applications.

About these figures

The Department's own results: Interactive map Summary report with county figures (PDF)

Prefer a multi-denominational patron: 33%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish: 23%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex: 2%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 5%

10 schools where half or more of parents would prefer a multi-denominational patron
24 schools where a quarter or more would prefer teaching through Irish

Source: Department of Education and Youth, Primary School Survey results, published 23 June 2026. Figures here add up the parents at each school with its own results.

Schools

89 schools, largest first.

Change over

Select a column heading to sort

	Roll number
Trinity Primary SchoolTuam	20547L	781	–	–	37	19.97	25	0
Athenry Primary SchoolAthenry	20582N	501	–	–	21	23.57	29	0
Scoil Bhrige agus Bhreandain NaofaCorrandulla	19997M	281	−1.7%	+4.9%	12	23.42	31	2
SN Muine MheaAthenry	18746F	251	+64.1%	+88.7%	10	24.60	35	1
Scoil MhuireClifden	19973V	241	+2.6%	+11.6%	10	23.30	33	1
S N BhrideTurloughmore	12954F	229	+4.1%	+118.1%	9	25.44	33	2
S N MhuireOranmore	17771W	229	−3.0%	+76.2%	9	25.44	30	1
Nioclas NaofaDunmore	19744G	221	+2.8%	+20.8%	9	24.56	32	1
S N Naomh PadraigClaregalway	16936A	221	−15.0%	+16.3%	10	22.10	31	2
SN SailearnaIndreabhán	12706J	212	+9.3%	+9.8%	9	23.22	30	2
Bunscoil Naomh ChuanaHeadford	12782C	208	+11.2%	+112.2%	8	24.50	32	3
S N an Croi Ro NaofaTuam	18021H	208	+7.8%	+131.1%	8	24.62	29	0
Ceathru na nGarrdhantaTuam	17631G	203	+9.1%	+69.2%	8	25.38	29	0
SN Mhic DaraAn Ceathrú Rua	19932H	202	−10.6%	+27.0%	8	25.25	30	2
St Colmans MXD N STuam	19276W	202	−30.3%	+4.7%	8	25.25	29	0
St Oliver Plunketts NSAthenry	19449E	199	+9.3%	+84.3%	8	24.88	28	0
Ballinderry N STuam	16410I	191	+7.3%	+138.8%	8	23.88	36	2
Scoil Naomh MhuireBallinasloe	18125T	180	+15.4%	+20.8%	7	25.71	31	1
Newtown NSTuam	20280U	172	+47.0%	–	7	24.57	31	1
Scoil Naomh PadraigBallinasloe	18332B	146	0.0%	+24.8%	6	24.33	30	1
Glenamaddy NSGlenamaddy	18572V	142	+91.9%	+44.9%	6	21.83	31	1
Headford Primary SchoolGalway	20583P	137	–	–	6	22.83	34	1
SN N BreandainCor An Dola	18163E	129	−14.6%	+57.3%	6	21.50	25	0
S N Cathair GealTuam	17807R	124	+42.5%	+14.8%	5	24.80	33	1
St Oliver Plunkett National SchoolBallinasloe	19380R	114	+14.0%	+75.4%	5	22.80	33	1
Croi Ronaofa MeascaitheWilliamstown	17368R	110	+34.1%	−8.3%	5	22.00	25	0
S N an Bhain MhoirClaregalway	09069L	108	−35.3%	−17.6%	5	19.20	24	0
Clonberne Central SCHBallinasloe	19388K	107	−20.7%	−23.6%	5	21.40	27	0
Scoil Mhuire NaofaBallinasloe	17877P	106	+3.9%	+82.8%	5	21.20	26	0
Annagh Hill NSTuam	20448J	105	+11.7%	–	5	21.00	29	0
S N Naomh FhursaHeadford	17118R	100	−35.5%	+8.7%	5	19.00	27	0
S N na Fuar CoilleadhCraughwell	17051L	100	+2.0%	+22.0%	4	25.00	28	0
SN Baile an MhuilinnTuam	18460K	99	+2.1%	+37.5%	5	19.80	27	0
Crumlin N SBallyglunin	12606F	95	−23.4%	+33.8%	4	23.75	26	0
Garrafrauns Central SCHTuam	19391W	95	+6.7%	+30.1%	4	23.75	32	1
S N Naomh IosefCong	13686L	94	−6.9%	+13.3%	4	22.75	24	0
S N Domhnach PadraigCaherlistrane	17207Q	92	−26.4%	+12.2%	4	23.00	32	1
Kilconly N STuam	15475I	90	−21.7%	+20.0%	4	22.50	25	0
S N an TsaileainTuam	06489S	90	+1.1%	+50.0%	4	22.50	28	0
Carnain N.S.Athenry	14031N	89	−15.2%	+78.0%	4	22.25	30	1
S N MuireLetterfrack	13621G	85	−3.4%	+18.1%	4	21.25	26	0
S N Choilm ChilleBaile na hAbhann O.P.	18514H	83	−37.1%	−34.6%	4	19.25	23	0
S N Tir an FhiaidhLeitir Móir	17689O	83	+36.1%	+56.6%	4	20.75	24	0
Scoil MhuireBeal an Daingin	20564L	81	–	–	4	20.25	24	0
Brierfield N SchoolTuam	14294W	80	−23.1%	+19.4%	5	14.80	18	0
Barnaderg Central SCHTuam	19275U	77	−33.0%	−10.5%	4	19.25	23	0
S N Cor an DromaClaregalway	15796F	73	−24.7%	−25.5%	3	22.33	25	0
S N an Leath BhaileTuam	17197Q	69	−10.4%	+32.7%	3	23.00	28	0
S N Naomh UinseannAthenry	16857E	67	−30.2%	−23.0%	4	16.75	24	0
Cloughanower N SHeadford	14448A	66	−29.8%	−19.5%	4	16.50	21	0
SN an Fhairchevia Clár Chlainne Mhuiris	14712O	62	+44.2%	+8.8%	3	20.67	27	0
Scoil Naomh PadraigHeadford	14278B	60	−6.2%	+100.0%	3	20.00	23	0
S N MhuireCarna	18121L	58	+34.9%	+13.7%	3	19.33	24	0
SN Ceathru na LaithighTuam	12138V	54	+54.3%	+80.0%	3	18.00	25	0
Scoil Iarlatha NaofaBallinasloe	17863E	53	−35.4%	0.0%	3	17.67	21	0
Scoil Naomh IosefTuam	18289D	51	−17.7%	−21.5%	3	17.00	22	0
Scoil MhuireWilliamstown	17980I	48	+14.3%	+37.1%	3	16.00	18	0
S N Muire gan SmalCladdaghduff	18608Q	43	+79.2%	+7.5%	2	21.50	24	0
S N LeitirgeisRenvyle	09833W	39	+30.0%	+39.3%	2	19.50	21	0
S N Naomh TreasaCashel	17660N	39	+18.2%	−2.5%	2	19.50	21	0
St Brendans N STuam	20040A	39	−36.1%	−23.5%	2	19.50	21	0
S N RonainInis Mór	17456O	36	−2.7%	−43.8%	2	18.00	18	0
Scoil MhuireCorr na Móna	18581W	36	−37.9%	−35.7%	2	17.00	24	0
S N CaomhainInis Oirr	17289V	33	+32.0%	−10.8%	2	16.50	17	0
S N BheanainTuam	18636V	31	−53.0%	−46.6%	2	15.50	17	0
S N Naomh PadraigRenvyle	14420B	28	−20.0%	−39.1%	2	14.00	15	0
SN M an Croi gan SmalLeenane	18490T	27	+28.6%	+125.0%	2	13.50	14	0
S N EannaRoundstone	12502Q	25	−19.4%	−32.4%	2	12.50	13	0
S N Leitir MeallainLeitir Meallain	20345W	25	−40.5%	–	2	12.50	14	0
S N Naomh BridRenvyle	11669B	25	−35.9%	−16.7%	2	10.50	13	0
SN an Aill BhreachBallyconneely	17488E	25	−34.2%	−7.4%	2	12.50	14	0
S N Gort na LeimeTuam	18686N	23	−23.3%	−45.2%	2	9.50	12	0
S N Naomh CiarainConamara	17574U	22	−40.5%	0.0%	2	9.50	11	0
S N Tir na CilleAn Mam	19357W	22	−31.2%	−8.3%	2	11.00	15	0
S N an Ard MhoirCill Chiarain	10591I	20	−45.9%	−63.0%	2	10.00	13	0
Scoil BrideBallinasloe	18309G	20	−37.5%	−55.6%	2	10.00	15	0
S N Padraig NaofaHeadford	17793J	18	+12.5%	0.0%	2	9.00	10	0
S N Baile an LeasaTuam	17760R	17	−54.1%	−61.4%	2	8.50	11	0
Ballyconeely N SClifden	19290Q	15	−40.0%	−66.7%	2	7.50	8	0
Inishbofin N SInishbofin	13927H	15	+36.4%	−21.1%	2	7.50	10	0
S N na Naomh UileCleggan	13821O	15	0.0%	−44.4%	2	7.50	8	0
Scoil RonainLeitir Móir	14724V	15	−44.4%	−50.0%	2	7.50	9	0
S N Eoin Pol IIOileain Arann	20210W	14	−33.3%	–	2	7.00	9	0
S N ArdCarna	14421D	13	−63.9%	−55.2%	2	6.50	7	0
S N Inis MeadhoinOileann Árainn	12339I	13	+62.5%	−7.1%	2	6.50	7	0
S N Naomh PadraigAn Fhairche	12106I	13	−50.0%	−58.1%	2	6.50	8	0
S N Padraig NaofaWilliamstown	14273O	12	−65.7%	−72.1%	2	6.00	7	0
S N Naomh ColmainCárna	17770U	10	−60.0%	−16.7%	2	5.00	7	0
S N Naomh AntoineClifden	12095G	2	−93.8%	−93.9%	1	2.00	2	0