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St Mary's National School

PrimaryCatholicDEISSpecial classes

Castlefinn, Lifford · F93 FD92 · Roll number 14910S

St Mary's National School is one of 4 primary schools in or within 3 km of Castlefinn. Every school in and around Castlefinn →

Directions
Pupils
155
September, 2025/26
79 girls, 76 boys
Since 2019/20
+25%
from 124 pupils
Ireland: +5%
Ethos
Catholic
Patron: Bishop of Derry
Language
English
outside the Gaeltacht
Results
Not published
none school by school (Education Act 1998, s.53)
The gist

What stands out about St Mary's National School

  • 155 pupils, near the middle for primary schools in Ireland (the median is 131).
  • Teaches through English, with Irish as a subject.
  • Growing: 155 pupils, 25% more than the 124 of 2019/20.
  • In DEIS. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) gives schools serving disadvantaged areas more teachers, money and support; the Department decides which schools are in it.
  • Has special classes for children who need more support.
  • The largest of the 4 primary schools around Castlefinn.
  • Its patron is the Bishop of Derry; its ethos is Catholic.

Pupils over time

2015/16 to 2025/26

St Mary's National School had 155 pupils in 2025/26, against 153 in 2015/16 (+1%). Girls are 51% of them. Its roll rose in 3 of the 10 years.

040801201602015/162018/192021/222025/26PupilsGirls

Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year; girls and boys where the lists give them.

No letter

No letter for St Mary's National School

Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing schools by them, so this school has no letter and nothing here ranks it. Its facts are the Department of Education’s; its inspection reports are linked below.

What the Department of Education does publish for St Mary's National School is on this page: its pupils each September since 2015/16, girls and boys, its patron and ethos, whether it teaches through Irish, whether it is in DEIS, and its inspection reports.

Newspapers print lists of how many of a school’s leavers go on to college. Those count destinations, not exam results, and depend on who a school takes in; we don’t use them.

Inspections

Inspection reports on St Mary's National School

The Department of Education’s Inspectorate visits schools and publishes its reports. The reports describe what inspectors saw; they give no overall grade, and we don’t make one. Reports for this school on gov.ie ↗

Inspectors visit every kind of school. Whole-school evaluations look at teaching and learning, leadership and management; subject inspections look at one subject; follow-through inspections check whether earlier advice was taken. Each report is published on gov.ie with the school’s response.

Getting in

Getting a place at St Mary's National School

Every school admits under its own published admission policy; no admissions numbers are published.

Families apply to St Mary's National School directly. Children can start once they are four and must be in school by six; the school’s yearly admission notice gives the dates for applying and for its decisions.

A school with more applicants than places admits on the criteria in its admission policy, often brothers and sisters, the area it serves and, for post-primary schools, its feeder primaries. A family refused a place can appeal.

It is in DEIS, so it has extra support for pupils from disadvantaged areas. Places in special classes and special schools are allocated with the National Council for Special Education.

Pupils
155
September, 2025/26
Since 2019/20
+25%
from 124 pupils

No figures on applications are published, but the roll shows demand: St Mary's National School has grown by 25% since 2019/20. All the schools around Castlefinn together changed by −14%.

Pupils since 2019/20

St Mary's+25%
The primary schools around Castlefinn−14%
All Irish primary schools−5%

Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; Department of Education enrolments 2019/20 and 2025/26 (preliminary).

Side by side with the nearest primary schools

2025/26

The nearest schools of the same kind, as the crow flies: their pupils, ethos and language. No results: none are published.

Of the 6 nearest primary schools, 1 have more pupils than St Mary's National School. Since 2019/20 its roll has changed by +25%; 0 of the 6 grew faster.

St Mary's155
S.N. Domhnach Mor22
SN Naomh Samhthann40
Scoil Cholmcille Naofa17
Scoil Cuilm Cille38
Killygordan22
S.N. an Droim Mor229
SchoolPupilsSince 2019/20EthosLanguageDEISAway
St Mary's National School155+25%CatholicEnglish✓
S.N. Domhnach Mor22−51%PresbyterianEnglish✓2.9 km
SN Naomh Samhthann40−32%CatholicEnglish✓3.2 km
Scoil Cholmcille Naofa17−62%CatholicEnglish✓3.7 km
Scoil Cuilm Cille38+6%CatholicEnglish✓4.9 km
Killygordan N.S.22+5%Church of IrelandEnglish✓5.8 km
S.N. an Droim Mor229−1%CatholicEnglish✓5.9 km
The other 164 primary schools in Co. Donegal
SchoolPupilsSince 2019/20EthosLanguageDEISAway
Gleneely N.S.45−33%CatholicEnglish✓7 km
St Patricks N.S.162−6%CatholicEnglish✓7.4 km
Scoil Adhamhnain158+3%CatholicEnglish✓7.6 km
Scoil Náisiúnta Muire Gan Smál124+19%CatholicEnglish✓7.6 km
Comhscoil Chonmha S.N.100+11%Church of IrelandEnglish7.8 km
Raphoe Central N.S.185−6%Church of IrelandEnglish✓8 km
Scoil Bhride192−3%CatholicEnglish✓8.1 km
Scoil Mhuire B & C489+8%CatholicEnglish✓11 km
Robertson N.S.89+35%Church of IrelandEnglish✓11 km
S.N. Gleann Coimhead57−34%CatholicEnglish11 km
Glenmaquin N.S.21−9%PresbyterianEnglish✓12 km
S.N. Seiseadh Ui Neill167−6%CatholicEnglish✓13 km
Scoil Phádraig118−6%CatholicEnglish13 km
S.N. Baile an Caislean66+38%PresbyterianEnglish✓15 km
S.N. Naomh Colmchille81−4%CatholicEnglish✓15 km
Ray N.S.51−20%Church of IrelandEnglish✓15 km
St Patricks N.S.426−6%CatholicEnglish16 km
Dooish N.S.191−12%CatholicEnglish16 km
S.N. Naomh Baoithin113+3%CatholicEnglish✓17 km
S.N. Baile an Bhailsig47+68%Church of IrelandEnglish17 km
S.N. Baile Raighin215−9%Church of IrelandEnglish18 km
Scoil Naomh Proinnseas119−6%CatholicEnglish✓19 km
Scoil Choilmcille659+82%CatholicEnglish✓19 km
Letterkenny Educate Together NS420+43%Multi-denominationalEnglish✓19 km
S.N. Muire Gan Smal480+11%CatholicEnglish19 km
Monreagh N.S.48+2%PresbyterianEnglish✓19 km
S.N. an Leinbh Iosa84+12%CatholicEnglish✓19 km
Gaelscoil Adhamhnain410−12%CatholicAll in Irish20 km
S N Talamh na Coille467−2%CatholicEnglish20 km
S.N. Taodhbhog55+49%CatholicAll in Irish✓22 km
Glenswilly N.S.262−4%CatholicEnglish22 km
Moyle N.S.81−7%PresbyterianEnglish22 km
Scoil Cholmcille199−13%CatholicEnglish✓22 km
Cashelshanaghan N.S.28+4%PresbyterianEnglish22 km
Scoil Naomh Fiachra519−6%CatholicEnglish23 km
S.N. an Choimin54−30%CatholicAll in Irish✓24 km
Scoil Naomh Seosamh24−23%CatholicEnglish25 km
Scoil Mhuire206+14%CatholicEnglish✓26 km
Ayr Hill N.S. Ramelton32–PresbyterianEnglish26 km
S.N. Trianta33+3%PresbyterianEnglish27 km
Scoil Naomh Cholmcille68−12%CatholicEnglish✓27 km
S.N. Naomh Colmchille231+19%CatholicEnglish28 km
Browneknowe N.S.48−28%PresbyterianEnglish29 km
S.N. Naomh Aonghus218+6%CatholicEnglish29 km
Portlean N.S.20−17%PresbyterianEnglish30 km
Gartan N.S.19–Church of IrelandEnglish✓30 km
Scoil an tStratha Mhóir64−25%CatholicAll in Irish✓30 km
St Muras N.S.189−12%CatholicEnglish31 km
St Francis N.S.159+2%CatholicEnglish31 km
Scoil Cholmcille127+1%CatholicAll in Irish✓31 km
Scoil Mhuire54+20%CatholicEnglish✓33 km
S.N. Mhuire218+25%CatholicEnglish✓33 km
Rathmullen N.S.119+24%CatholicEnglish✓33 km
S.N. Cholmcille28−22%CatholicAll in Irish✓34 km
Scoil an Linbh Íosa274+30%CatholicEnglish36 km
Scoil Aodh Rua&Nuala219−8%CatholicEnglish36 km
Scoil Naomh Brid196−1%CatholicEnglish37 km
Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maistri55−38%Inter-denominationalAll in Irish37 km
S.N. Eadan Fhionnfhaoich10–CatholicAll in Irish✓37 km
Glebe N.S.121+20%Church of IrelandEnglish37 km
St Garvans N.S.33+3%CatholicEnglish✓37 km
S.N. Ceathru Caol53−47%CatholicEnglish✓37 km
Scoil Iosagain779+0%CatholicEnglish38 km
Naomh Adhamhnain123+62%CatholicEnglish38 km
St. Mura's National School26+0%Church of IrelandEnglish38 km
Cranford N.S.48+0%CatholicEnglish✓38 km
Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha67−48%Inter-denominationalAll in Irish38 km
St Orans N.S.228+8%CatholicEnglish✓40 km
S.N. Glasain28+4%CatholicAll in Irish✓40 km
Creeslough N.S.31+11%Church of IrelandEnglish✓41 km
S.N. Duchoraidh4–CatholicAll in Irish✓41 km
Scoil Mhuire166+30%CatholicEnglish✓41 km
Scoil Cholmcille37−8%CatholicAll in Irish✓42 km
Scoil Naomh Earnan94+0%CatholicEnglish✓42 km
Drumfad N.S.35+3%PresbyterianEnglish✓42 km
Robertson N.S.67+24%Church of IrelandEnglish✓42 km
Scoil Naomh Iósaf45−10%CatholicEnglish✓42 km
Scoil Naomh Peadar135+75%CatholicEnglish42 km
Scoil Eoin Baiste136−4%CatholicEnglish✓43 km
S.N. Naomh Eighneach75−26%CatholicEnglish✓43 km
Scoil Mhuire155+32%CatholicEnglish✓44 km
Frosses N.S.77−11%CatholicEnglish✓44 km
Scoil Choluim30–CatholicEnglish✓44 km
St Davadogs N.S.27−16%CatholicEnglish✓45 km
S.N. Baile Mor7–Church of IrelandEnglish✓45 km
S.N. Fothar32−18%CatholicEnglish45 km
S.N. Leitir Mhic an Bhaird16−48%CatholicEnglish✓46 km
S.N. Naomh Padraig64+0%CatholicEnglish✓46 km
S.N. Naomh Brid66−8%CatholicAll in Irish✓46 km
Scoil Naomh Fionan199−12%CatholicEnglish46 km
S N Caiseal na gCorr44+2%CatholicAll in Irish✓47 km
Inver N.S.20−23%Church of IrelandEnglish47 km
S.N. Naomh Naille113+14%CatholicEnglish47 km
St Riaghans N.S.26+18%CatholicEnglish✓47 km
Min A Ghabhann N.S.39+30%CatholicEnglish✓47 km
Murroe National School50+85%CatholicEnglish✓47 km
Scoil Mhuire64+8%CatholicAll in Irish✓48 km
S.N. Chill Coinnigh5−75%CatholicEnglish✓48 km
S N na Croise Naofa33−21%CatholicEnglish✓49 km
Dunfanaghy N.S.24−14%Church of IrelandEnglish✓49 km
Rockfield N.S.49+14%CatholicEnglish✓49 km
Scoil Fhionáin204+20%CatholicAll in Irish✓49 km
S.N. Gort an Choirce40+0%CatholicAll in Irish✓49 km
S.N. Mhin Teineadh de21−9%CatholicAll in Irish50 km
Gortnacart N.S.16–CatholicEnglish✓50 km
Scoil Phadraig103+27%CatholicAll in Irish✓50 km
S.N. Loch an Iubhair25−32%CatholicAll in Irish✓50 km
Kilbarron N.S.44+16%Church of IrelandEnglish✓51 km
Gaelscoil Eirne29−40%Inter-denominationalAll in Irish✓51 km
Scoil Naomh Chaitriona77+26%CatholicEnglish✓51 km
Glentogher Con N.S.13–CatholicEnglish✓51 km
Holy Family National School193+35%CatholicEnglish✓51 km
Scoil Chróine265−5%CatholicEnglish✓51 km
S.N. an Br M O Cleirigh211−2%CatholicEnglish51 km
S N na gCluainte96−8%CatholicEnglish✓51 km
S.N. Dhubhthaigh91−11%CatholicAll in Irish✓52 km
Scoil Naomh Treasa C52−9%CatholicEnglish✓52 km
S N Cnoc na Naomh87−3%CatholicAll in Irish✓52 km
S.N. Muire Gan Smal94+36%CatholicEnglish✓52 km
St Francis' National School132+11%CatholicEnglish✓52 km
S.N. Dun Ceannfhaolaidh82−12%CatholicEnglish✓52 km
Ardara Mixed N.S.12–Church of IrelandEnglish✓53 km
S.N. Donaigh33+6%Church of IrelandEnglish✓53 km
S.N. Olibhear Pluinceid61−29%CatholicAll in Irish✓53 km
Scoil Naomh Dubhthach27−29%CatholicAll in Irish✓53 km
S.N. Chonaill107+23%CatholicAll in Irish✓53 km
Killaghtee N.S.12–Church of IrelandEnglish✓53 km
Scoil Chroí Naofa, Carndomhnach124−7%CatholicEnglish✓54 km
Scoil Mhuire B&C97−16%CatholicAll in Irish✓54 km
Scoil Naomh Colmchille186+11%CatholicEnglish✓54 km
Scoil Naomh Padraig163+14%CatholicEnglish✓54 km
S.N. an Bhreacaigh24−31%CatholicAll in Irish✓54 km
Bruckless N.S.18–CatholicEnglish✓54 km
St Conals68−14%CatholicEnglish✓55 km
S.N. Adhamhnain131−8%CatholicAll in Irish✓55 km
Scoil Roisin51−14%CatholicSome subjects in Irish✓55 km
Naomh Bridhid92−12%CatholicEnglish✓55 km
Scoil Bhrighde28−7%CatholicAll in Irish✓55 km
Scoil Phadraig121−16%CatholicEnglish✓55 km
Scoil Eoghan212−15%CatholicEnglish✓56 km
Moville N.S.32−41%Church of IrelandEnglish56 km
Killybegs Common N.S.75+7%CatholicEnglish✓56 km
Gaelscoil Chois Feabhaill75−7%CatholicAll in Irish56 km
Scoil Mhuire118−4%CatholicEnglish✓56 km
Scoil Mhuire42+8%CatholicEnglish✓57 km
S N na hAcrai70+1%CatholicEnglish✓57 km
S.N. Crannaighe Buidhe54+54%CatholicEnglish✓57 km
Scoil an Aingil Choimheadai14−52%CatholicAll in Irish✓57 km
St Macartans Central276−1%CatholicEnglish✓57 km
S.N. Neill Mor240+22%CatholicEnglish✓57 km
Scoil Treasa Naofa137+40%CatholicEnglish✓59 km
Scoil Cholmcille133+8%CatholicEnglish59 km
S.N. Fhionntra5−88%CatholicEnglish60 km
Naomh Bodain108+44%CatholicEnglish✓60 km
S.N. Arainn Mhor I13–CatholicAll in Irish✓61 km
S.N. Arainn Mhor II21–CatholicAll in Irish✓62 km
S.N. an Iorball Riabaigh40−17%CatholicEnglish✓62 km
Scoil Cholmchille77−10%CatholicEnglish✓63 km
Scoil Naomh Mhuire57−22%CatholicEnglish✓64 km
Scoil Naomh Cholmcille18–CatholicAll in Irish✓65 km
S.N. Min an Aoire14–CatholicAll in Irish✓66 km
Scoil Chartha Naofa111+3%CatholicAll in Irish✓67 km
S N na Carraige59−27%CatholicAll in Irish✓68 km
S.N. an Chaiseal58−17%CatholicAll in Irish✓73 km
Living nearby

Living in Castlefinn

The town’s figures, not this street’s.

Median sale price
€165,200
routing key F93, 2023–25 (CSO): less sure
Average rent
€977
a month, new tenancies in 2025 across Co. Donegal

Homes in the F93 Eircode area

Housing in Castlefinn →

The median sale price rose from €161,000 in 2023 to €175,000 in 2025 (+9%).

2023€161,000
2024€159,100
2025€175,000

New against second-hand, 2023 to 2025

New homes€297,500
Second-hand homes€163,000

Property Price Register sales in the F93 Eircode routing area, 2023 to 2025.

Renting in Co. Donegal

Cost of living in Castlefinn →

New tenancies in Co. Donegal averaged €977 a month in 2025, against €893 in 2024 (+9%).

2024€893
2025€977

Residential Tenancies Board rent index, new tenancies, 2024 and 2025.

Location

Directions ↗

Castlefinn, F93 FD92

Nearby

Primary schools near St Mary's National School

Nearest first, as the crow flies, up to 25 km. Each school’s own admission policy decides who gets a place.

S.N. Domhnach Mor
Primary · Presbyterian
DEIS
22 pupils−51% since 2019/202.9 km
SN Naomh Samhthann
Primary · Catholic
DEIS
40 pupils−32% since 2019/203.2 km
Scoil Cholmcille Naofa
Primary · Catholic
DEIS
17 pupils−62% since 2019/203.7 km
Scoil Cuilm Cille
Primary · Catholic
DEIS
38 pupils+6% since 2019/204.9 km
Killygordan N.S.
Primary · Church of Ireland
DEIS
22 pupils+5% since 2019/205.8 km
S.N. an Droim Mor
Primary · Catholic
DEISSpecial classes
229 pupils−1% since 2019/205.9 km
Official recordInspection reports (gov.ie) ↗Department of Education school lists ↗Roll number 14910S

Questions about St Mary's National School

Is St Mary's National School a good school?

We don’t grade it: Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them. Its inspection reports on gov.ie, a visit and a talk with the principal will tell you more than any table could.

How many pupils does St Mary's National School have?

155 pupils in 2025/26. That is +25% since 2019/20.

Does St Mary's National School teach through Irish?

No: St Mary's National School teaches in English, with Irish as a subject.

Who runs St Mary's National School?

St Mary's National School has a Catholic ethos. Its patron is Bishop of Derry.

How do pupils get a place at St Mary's National School?

Apply to the school directly. It publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice with its dates; if more children apply than it has places, it admits on the criteria in its policy.

Which schools of the same kind are near St Mary's National School?

The nearest are S.N. Domhnach Mor (2.9 km), SN Naomh Samhthann (3.2 km) and Scoil Cholmcille Naofa (3.7 km).

Sources: Department of Education, school lists 2025/26 (preliminary) and enrolments since 2015/16, CC BY 4.0 · inspection reports on gov.ie, linked by roll number. Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).

Facts from the Department of Education’s school lists. Listed with Castlefinn; nothing here rates the school.

Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).