Planning area in Galway
Galway City
Schools in County Galway in this planning area.
- Schools
- 35
- of 217 in Galway
- Pupils
- 9,032
- 31% of Galway's pupils
- Since 2015/16
- +1.1%
- 8,937 pupils in 2015/16
- Average school size
- 258.1
- Galway: 135.5
- Average class size
- 21.41
- Galway: 21.46
Trends in Galway City
Each year counts the schools in this planning area today, plus any that closed from 2023/24. Dotted lines bridge 1983/84 to 1992/93. 1974/75 is left out because that year's source file is missing five counties.
The Department's files only record planning areas from 2023/24, so schools that closed or amalgamated before then aren't counted in any area. The further back you go, the more pupils are missing, and an amalgamation can look like a sudden rise. Across County Galway, schools with no planning area had 4.9% of pupils in 2015/16, 9.0% in 2005/06 and 34.0% in 1975/76. Known data issues
Pupils
9,032
−280 on 2024/25
Schools
35
22 in 1975/76
Average pupils per school
258.1
238.0 in 1975/76
Average class size
21.41
−0.61 on 2024/25
Pupils in these schools
Junior infants, girls and boys, and Irish-medium schools over time, for the same schools as the trends above.
Junior infants
Pupils starting school each year. Class-by-class figures start in 2020/21. 965 in 2025/26, −88 on 2024/25.
Girls and boys
From 1976/77: earlier files don't split every school's pupils into girls and boys.
Irish-medium schools
Pupils in schools that teach all subjects through Irish (8 schools today). 2,467 pupils in 2025/26, 27.3% of the area's pupils, against 28.4% in 2015/16. Each school counts under its current classification for every year.
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.
31 schools with figures for both years
Schools still filling their classes in 2015/16, and schools opened since, are listed separately.
Average class size in these schools went from 24.5 in 2015/16 to 21.6 in 2025/26. 7 of the 15 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 Claregalway Educate Together NSClaregalway, Co. Galway 133 → 220 +65.4%
- 2 Scoil an Linbh IosaGalway, Co. Galway 180 → 236 +31.1%
- 3 Gaelscoil Mhic AmhlaighGaillimh, Co. Galway 502 → 643 +28.1%
- 4 S N na bhForbachaCo.na Gaillimhe, Co. Galway 180 → 229 +27.2%
- 5 Scoil Croi IosaGalway, Co. Galway 100 → 122 +22.0%
Fallen most
Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26
- 1 S N an Bhain MhoirClaregalway, Co. Galway 167 → 108 −35.3%
- 2 SN ColmcilleCastlegar, Co. Galway 106 → 70 −34.0%
- 3 Tirellan Heights N SGalway, Co. Galway 450 → 330 −26.7%
- 4 S N BrighdeAn Caisleán Gearr, Co. Galway 167 → 130 −22.2%
- 5 Scoil Náisiúnta RóisGalway, Co. Galway 377 → 297 −21.2%
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 1,055 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.
- Merlin Woods Primary SchoolGalway · opened 2010/11 383
- Radharc na Mara National SchoolMervue · figures start 2020/21 353
- Knocknacarra Educate Together NSKnocknacarra · opened 2014/15 207
- Cuan na Gaillimhe Community National SchoolKnocknacarra · opened 2015/16 112
Class sizes
Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to.
- Average class size
- 21.41
- Mainstream classes
- 410
- Classes of 30 or more
- 22
- Schools with a class of 30+
- 10
Teachers
Teachers in the 35 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.
- Class teachers in 2025/26
- 410
- Up 114 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 20%
- Teaching posts in 2025/26
- about 687
- Estimate: 410 class teachers, 32 principals and deputies, 201 special education and 44 special class teachers
- Teachers in 2015/16
- 545
- The Department's last count of every teacher
- Since 2024/25
- 3 / 5
- 3 schools gained a class teacher, 5 lost one
Class teachers since 2006/07
One for each mainstream class, every school year
Special schools and special classes
5 special schools in Galway City, and the special classes in its 35 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.
- Pupils in special schools
- 306
- In 5 schools, up from 228 in 2015/16
- Special classes in 2025/26
- 44
- In 19 of 35 schools. 11 in 2020/21
- Allocated for 2026/27
- 58
- In 24 schools: 14 new classes, 5 schools with their first
- Autism classes
- 34
- 77% of special classes
Special classes since 2020/21
In Galway City's mainstream schools, from the NCSE's yearly lists
- 2020/21 11
- 2021/22 30
- 2022/23 34
- 2023/24 37
- 2024/25 42
- 2025/26 44
- 2026/27 58
2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.
| Special school | Pupils | Since 2015/16 | Teaching posts | SNAs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Josephs Special SCHNewcastle · Moderate general learning disability | 80 |
+11.1%
|
14 | 38 |
| Lakeview SchoolGalway · Mild general learning disability | 76 |
+61.7%
|
12 | 21 |
| Rosedale SchoolGalway · Severe or profound general learning disability | 75 |
+10.3%
|
13 | 37 |
| Scoil AineGalway | 45 |
+95.7%
|
– | – |
| Ábalta Special SchoolGalway · Autism | 30 | – | 5 | 18 |
Sources: Department of Education enrolment lists; NCSE special class lists and special school allocations (CC BY 4.0).
What parents would prefer
3,504 households answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey for the Galway City planning area: 2,334 with children at its schools and 1,170 with children not yet at school. Each said whether they would prefer co-educational or single-sex schooling, a denominational or multi-denominational patron, and teaching through Irish or English.
- Households that answered
- 3,504
- 44% of households asked
- Prefer a multi-denominational patron
- 46% / 49%
- Children at school / not yet at school
- Prefer teaching through Irish
- 37% / 42%
- Children at school / not yet at school
- Prefer single-sex
- 3% / 3%
- Children at school / not yet at school
Preferences beside what the schools offer now
Share of pupils in schools of each kind in the area, and share of parents who would prefer it
- Pupils in such schools now
- Parents: children at school
- Parents: children not yet at school
Multi-denominational patron
912 pupils (10%) in 4 schools
Teaching through Irish
2,467 pupils (27%) in 8 schools
Single-sex
363 pupils (4%) in 2 schools
Bars run from 0 to 50%.
Each school's parents
Parents of children at each school. Bold marks the school's set-up now.
| Gaelscoil Mhic AmhlaighGaillimh | 643 | 194 of 428 | ±5.9 | 47% | 95% | 1% | 114 answered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S N IognaidGaillimh | 480 | 130 of 333 | ±7.1 | 54% | 89% | 2% | 77 answered |
| Gaelscoil DaraGaillimh | 419 | 154 of 293 | ±6.6 | 41% | 94% | 0% | 96 answered |
| St. John the Apostle, Knocknacarra NSGalway | 400 | 143 of 306 | ±6.8 | 45% | 8% | 3% | 47 answered |
| Merlin Woods Primary SchoolGalway | 383 | 119 of 306 | ±7.5 | 39% | 6% | 4% | 45 answered |
| Galway Educate Together NSGalway | 373 | 98 of 284 | ±8.2 | 90% | 18% | 2% | – |
| Bushy Park N SGalway | 366 | 74 of 238 | ±9.4 | 55% | 16% | 4% | 38 answered |
| SN Caitriona SinsearRenmore | 365 | 106 of 324 | ±7.9 | 36% | 13% | 3% | – |
| Radharc na Mara National SchoolMervue | 353 | 56 of 211 | ±10.7 | 11% | 18% | 4% | – |
| S N Caitriona SoisRenmore | 350 | 111 of 294 | ±7.7 | 41% | 6% | 4% | 30 answered |
| Tirellan Heights N SGalway | 330 | 88 of 238 | ±8.6 | 31% | 6% | 2% | 30 answered |
| S N Chlair na GaillimheClaregalway | 311 | 87 of 193 | ±8.7 | 33% | 28% | 2% | – |
| Scoil Náisiúnta RóisGalway | 297 | 91 of 217 | ±8.5 | 49% | 12% | 12% | – |
| Scoil Bhrige agus Bhreandain NaofaCorrandulla | 281 | 53 of 107 | ±11 | 26% | 23% | 2% | – |
| Niochlas N SGalway | 262 | 65 of 173 | ±10 | 32% | 17% | 3% | – |
| Scoil IdeGalway | 244 | 71 of 179 | ±9.6 | 48% | 18% | 20% | 69 answered |
| Scoil an Linbh IosaGalway | 236 | 38 of 171 | ±12.9 | 58% | 16% | 5% | – |
| S N na bhForbachaCo.na Gaillimhe | 229 | 66 of 154 | ±9.9 | 52% | 86% | 0% | – |
| Scoil MhuireCastlegar | 223 | 45 of 139 | ±11.9 | 36% | 7% | 4% | 35 answered |
| S N Seamus NaofaBearna | 221 | 63 of 163 | ±10.1 | 51% | 90% | 0% | – |
| Claregalway Educate Together NSClaregalway | 220 | 51 of 147 | ±11.2 | 86% | 18% | 0% | 40 answered |
| S N FhursaGaillimh | 216 | 56 of 161 | ±10.7 | 43% | 95% | 0% | – |
| S N Padraic NaofaGalway | 214 | 63 of 163 | ±10.1 | 57% | 6% | 6% | – |
| Knocknacarra Educate Together NSKnocknacarra | 207 | 79 of 164 | ±9.1 | 91% | 13% | 3% | 35 answered |
| S N Bride NaofaGalway | 187 | 41 of 95 | ±12.4 | 24% | 24% | 15% | – |
| Scoil Naomh IosefBearna | 183 | 52 of 127 | ±11.1 | 35% | 19% | 2% | – |
| SN Cearn MorÓrán Mór | 174 | 53 of 112 | ±11 | 25% | 28% | 0% | – |
| S N BrighdeAn Caisleán Gearr | 130 | 26 of 56 | ±15.4 | 42% | 50% | 0% | – |
| SN N BreandainCor An Dola | 129 | 32 of 83 | ±14 | 19% | 78% | 0% | – |
| Scoil Croi IosaGalway | 122 | 15 of 86 | ±19.5 | 67% | 13% | 7% | 38 answered |
| Scoil Naomh EindeGalway | 119 | 48 of 107 | ±11.6 | 52% | 8% | 15% | – |
| Cuan na Gaillimhe Community National SchoolKnocknacarra | 112 | 36 of 79 | ±13.2 | 92% | 22% | 3% | – |
| S N an Bhain MhoirClaregalway | 108 | 16 of 45 | ±19 | 38% | 38% | 6% | – |
| Parochial N SGalway | 75 | 27 of 55 | ±15.1 | 81% | 7% | 0% | – |
| SN ColmcilleCastlegar | 70 | 23 of 51 | ±16.2 | 22% | 4% | 0% | – |
Grey margins of error are 15 points or more: so few parents answered that the figures could be well off. “Too few to publish”: the Department held back the school's results, but its parents' answers still count in the area figures. Not yet at school: how many parents of children not yet at school chose the school, shown where 30 or more did. Special schools in the area are counted in the area figures above.
Source: Department of Education and Youth, Primary School Survey results, published 23 June 2026. The area figures count each household once, including parents at schools too small for their own results, so they aren't the school figures added up. About these figures
Schools
35 schools, largest first.
Select a column heading to sort
| Roll number | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaelscoil Mhic AmhlaighGaillimh | 19994G | 643 |
+2.9%
+28.1%
+96.6%
|
+96.6%
|
27 | 23.81 | 31 | 2 |
| S N IognaidGaillimh | 19371Q | 480 |
−5.7%
−17.1%
−5.9%
|
−5.9%
|
20 | 24.00 | 31 | 2 |
| Gaelscoil DaraGaillimh | 19858V | 419 |
−6.7%
−3.0%
+52.9%
|
+52.9%
|
17 | 24.65 | 29 | 0 |
| St. John the Apostle, Knocknacarra NSGalway | 20108I | 400 |
−5.2%
−9.9%
– |
– | 16 | 24.62 | 28 | 0 |
| Merlin Woods Primary SchoolGalway | 20350P | 383 |
−10.9%
–– |
– | 16 | 23.19 | 26 | 0 |
| Galway Educate Together NSGalway | 20000L | 373 |
−9.0%
+11.3%
+58.1%
|
+58.1%
|
16 | 22.19 | 27 | 0 |
| Bushy Park N SGalway | 13856K | 366 |
−1.6%
−8.5%
+3.4%
|
+3.4%
|
16 | 22.88 | 25 | 0 |
| SN Caitriona SinsearRenmore | 19468I | 365 |
−2.4%
−3.9%
+8.3%
|
+8.3%
|
15 | 23.27 | 26 | 0 |
| Radharc na Mara National SchoolMervue | 20554I | 353 |
−0.6%
–– |
– | 21 | 15.67 | 22 | 0 |
| S N Caitriona SoisRenmore | 19401W | 350 |
−10.7%
−19.5%
−9.1%
|
−9.1%
|
19 | 17.16 | 21 | 0 |
| Tirellan Heights N SGalway | 19795A | 330 |
−14.1%
−26.7%
−22.2%
|
−22.2%
|
21 | 15.71 | 20 | 0 |
| S N Chlair na GaillimheClaregalway | 16804G | 311 |
−3.7%
−9.1%
+5.1%
|
+5.1%
|
13 | 23.92 | 29 | 0 |
| Scoil Náisiúnta RóisGalway | 19241D | 297 |
−14.7%
−21.2%
−44.4%
|
−44.4%
|
13 | 21.92 | 28 | 0 |
| Scoil Bhrige agus Bhreandain NaofaCorrandulla | 19997M | 281 |
+3.7%
−1.7%
+4.9%
|
+4.9%
|
12 | 23.42 | 31 | 2 |
| Niochlas N SGalway | 16943U | 262 |
−5.4%
−18.4%
+37.9%
|
+37.9%
|
14 | 17.00 | 22 | 0 |
| Scoil IdeGalway | 18634R | 244 |
−11.6%
−16.7%
−18.7%
|
−18.7%
|
11 | 22.18 | 32 | 2 |
| Scoil an Linbh IosaGalway | 04515G | 236 |
+14.6%
+31.1%
+76.1%
|
+76.1%
|
13 | 17.77 | 27 | 0 |
| S N na bhForbachaCo.na Gaillimhe | 17668G | 229 |
+23.1%
+27.2%
+56.8%
|
+56.8%
|
8 | 28.62 | 32 | 4 |
| Scoil MhuireCastlegar | 17845C | 223 |
−7.5%
−6.7%
+0.9%
|
+0.9%
|
10 | 21.10 | 30 | 3 |
| S N Seamus NaofaBearna | 19803T | 221 |
−14.7%
−21.1%
−24.6%
|
−24.6%
|
10 | 22.10 | 32 | 2 |
| Claregalway Educate Together NSClaregalway | 20211B | 220 |
+11.7%
+65.4%
– |
– | 9 | 23.11 | 28 | 0 |
| S N FhursaGaillimh | 16937C | 216 |
−11.1%
−13.3%
−21.2%
|
−21.2%
|
9 | 24.00 | 30 | 2 |
| S N Padraic NaofaGalway | 17784I | 214 |
+20.9%
−5.3%
−28.4%
|
−28.4%
|
9 | 22.44 | 34 | 1 |
| Knocknacarra Educate Together NSKnocknacarra | 20410H | 207 | ––– | – | 8 | 24.50 | 28 | 0 |
| S N Bride NaofaGalway | 17782E | 187 |
+5.6%
−18.3%
−49.0%
|
−49.0%
|
10 | 18.00 | 25 | 0 |
| Scoil Naomh IosefBearna | 13914V | 183 |
−26.2%
−4.7%
+63.4%
|
+63.4%
|
8 | 21.00 | 28 | 0 |
| SN Cearn MorÓrán Mór | 19828M | 174 |
+0.6%
+4.2%
+6.7%
|
+6.7%
|
7 | 24.86 | 31 | 2 |
| S N BrighdeAn Caisleán Gearr | 17759J | 130 |
−16.7%
−22.2%
+14.0%
|
+14.0%
|
6 | 19.67 | 26 | 0 |
| SN N BreandainCor An Dola | 18163E | 129 |
−3.0%
−14.6%
+57.3%
|
+57.3%
|
6 | 21.50 | 25 | 0 |
| Scoil Croi IosaGalway | 01013N | 122 |
+2.5%
+22.0%
−22.8%
|
−22.8%
|
7 | 17.43 | 20 | 0 |
| Scoil Naomh EindeGalway | 18929N | 119 |
−3.3%
−15.0%
+72.5%
|
+72.5%
|
5 | 21.40 | 27 | 0 |
| Cuan na Gaillimhe Community National SchoolKnocknacarra | 20462D | 112 | ––– | – | 5 | 22.40 | 29 | 0 |
| S N an Bhain MhoirClaregalway | 09069L | 108 |
−26.5%
−35.3%
−17.6%
|
−17.6%
|
5 | 19.20 | 24 | 0 |
| Parochial N SGalway | 16750J | 75 |
−8.5%
−13.8%
−28.6%
|
−28.6%
|
4 | 18.75 | 26 | 0 |
| SN ColmcilleCastlegar | 17221K | 70 |
−17.6%
−34.0%
+7.7%
|
+7.7%
|
4 | 16.00 | 18 | 0 |
No schools match that filter.