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School patron in Galway

Bishop of Clonfert

Schools in County Galway under this patron.

Other patrons in Galway Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora · 63 Archbishop of Tuam · 89 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
41
of 217 in Galway
Pupils
4,439
15% of Galway's pupils
Average school size
108.3
Galway: 135.5
Average class size
21.35
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

41 schools with figures for both years

14fell by 10% or more
7within 10%
20grew by 10% or more
Down 25% or more · 9Down 10 to 25% · 5Within 10% · 7Up 10 to 25% · 7Up 25% or more · 13

Average class size in these schools went from 23.5 in 2015/16 to 21.3 in 2025/26. 8 of the 14 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. 1 Baile Mor Siol AnmcadhaLawrencetown, Co. Galway 61 → 117 +91.8%
  2. 2 Togala MhuireKiltullagh, Co. Galway 123 → 198 +61.0%
  3. 3 S N Cillini DiomaLoughrea, Co. Galway 106 → 147 +38.7%
  4. 4 Iomair N SBallinasloe, Co. Galway 102 → 136 +33.3%
  5. 5 S N Caitriona NaofaBallinasloe, Co. Galway 92 → 117 +27.2%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 S N Breandan NaofaLoughrea, Co. Galway 80 → 32 −60.0%
  2. 2 St. Josephs N.S.Loughrea, Co. Galway 95 → 53 −44.2%
  3. 3 Esker N SAthenry, Co. Galway 106 → 65 −38.7%
  4. 4 St Brendan's N.S.Ballinasloe, Co. Galway 70 → 45 −35.7%
  5. 5 S N an CillinPortumna, Co. Galway 59 → 42 −28.8%

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.

Class sizes

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

Average class size
21.35
Mainstream classes
204
Classes of 30 or more
9
Schools with a class of 30+
8

Teachers

Teachers in the 41 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
204
Up 35 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 12%
Teaching posts in 2025/26
about 323
Estimate: 204 class teachers, 11 principals and deputies, 93 special education and 15 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16
268
The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25
7 / 3
7 schools gained a class teacher, 3 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

What parents would prefer

1,059 of the 2,734 households with children at the 37 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 4 more schools had too few answers for their own results. These are preferences, not applications.

About these figures
The Department's own results: Interactive mapSummary report with county figures (PDF)
Prefer a multi-denominational patron
35%
Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish
13%
Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex
3%
Parents of children at school · Ireland 5%
  • 3 schools where half or more of parents would prefer a multi-denominational patron
  • 6 schools where a quarter or more would prefer teaching through Irish
  • 2 of 2 single-sex schools where most parents would prefer co-educational

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

41 schools, largest first.

Change over

Select a column heading to sort

Roll number
S N Muire gan SmalBallinasloe 17198S 445
+7.2%
+12.1%
19 23.42 28 0
S N Ide NaofaLoughrea 16762Q 328
+10.1%
+7.2%
13 25.23 28 0
Scoil an Chroi NaofaBallinasloe 20042E 293
+5.0%
+8.5%
15 18.33 26 0
St Brendans NSPortumna 19996K 235
−0.4%
+11.4%
10 22.90 29 0
St Brendans N SLoughrea 15835M 216
+10.8%
+27.8%
9 24.00 28 0
Scoil Naomh EannaLoughrea 18112K 208
+10.6%
+128.6%
8 25.25 33 1
S N Seosamh NaofaAthenry 17444H 203
+10.3%
+67.8%
8 23.88 30 1
Togala MhuireKiltullagh 18097R 198
+61.0%
+224.6%
8 24.75 29 0
SN Ui CheithearnaighBéal Átha na Slua 19969H 193
−4.9%
+19.1%
8 24.12 35 1
S N Cillini DiomaLoughrea 15071H 147
+38.7%
−3.9%
6 24.50 30 1
Iomair N SBallinasloe 08512U 136
+33.3%
+30.8%
5 26.00 34 2
Baile Mor Siol AnmcadhaLawrencetown 17170T 117
+91.8%
+88.7%
5 21.00 28 0
S N Caitriona NaofaBallinasloe 17613E 117
+27.2%
+0.9%
5 23.40 31 1
S N Cill CuileLoughrea 06044D 109
+11.2%
+41.6%
5 21.80 26 0
Scoil BhrideBeal Atha Na Sluaigh 17934B 106
−5.4%
+6.0%
5 18.80 24 0
Cappatagle Central SCHBallinasloe 19506N 105
+8.2%
−9.5%
5 19.80 26 0
S N Aindreis NaofaLoughrea 03607G 94
−24.2%
+62.1%
4 23.50 35 1
Kiltormer N SBallinasloe 01328P 89
+206.9%
+4.7%
4 22.25 25 0
S N Breandain NaofaGurtymadden 17154V 87
+180.6%
+61.1%
4 21.75 27 0
Ballymacward Central SCBallinasloe 19283T 81
+20.9%
−5.8%
4 20.25 23 0
Aibhistin NaofaBallinasloe 17919F 80
+116.2%
+42.9%
4 20.00 23 0
S N Cill RichillBaile Locha Riabhach 16293H 69
+64.3%
+32.7%
3 23.00 27 0
Esker N SAthenry 01000E 65
−38.7%
−7.1%
3 21.67 35 1
S N Cill ConaillBallinasloe 14377D 65
+10.2%
−42.5%
3 21.67 27 0
S N Muire gan SmalBallinasloe 18043R 53
+82.8%
+82.8%
2 26.50 28 0
Scoil Bhreandain NaofaBeal Atha Na Sluaigh 17870B 53
−8.6%
−23.2%
3 17.67 19 0
St. Josephs N.S.Loughrea 15958F 53
−44.2%
−36.1%
3 15.67 16 0
Gortanumera N SBallinasloe 08379V 50
+47.1%
+61.3%
3 16.67 19 0
Gurteen Central NSBallinasloe 19770H 49
−22.2%
+44.1%
3 16.33 23 0
S N Lorcain NaofaLoughrea 17490O 45
−23.7%
−11.8%
2 22.50 24 0
S N Naomh TreasaBallinasloe 10095T 45
+125.0%
+164.7%
3 15.00 18 0
St Brendan's N.S.Ballinasloe 15997P 45
−35.7%
−40.0%
3 15.00 18 0
S N an CillinPortumna 13665D 42
−28.8%
+20.0%
3 14.00 20 0
S N Iomair NaofaAthenry 17529P 38
−17.4%
−13.6%
2 19.00 19 0
S N Breandan NaofaWoodford 17547R 34
+240.0%
+36.0%
2 17.00 20 0
S N Breandan NaofaLoughrea 17506D 32
−60.0%
−55.6%
2 16.00 23 0
S N Baile na CilleBaile Locha Riach 17273G 32
−17.9%
−43.9%
2 16.00 16 0
St Feichins N SchoolLoughrea 16596C 32
−27.3%
0.0%
2 16.00 22 0
S N Padraig NaofaBallinasloe 17485V 22
−53.2%
−59.3%
2 11.00 11 0
S N an DromaLoughrea 17331R 15
−46.4%
−48.3%
2 7.50 10 0
S N Pairc na SlinneBaile Locha Riach 17242S 13
−50.0%
−60.6%
2 6.50 7 0