Breaffy N.S.
Breaffy, Castlebar, Co. Mayo · F23 WF99 · Roll number 13781F
Breaffy N.S. is one of 7 primary schools in or within 3 km of Castlebar. Every school in and around Castlebar →
What stands out about Breaffy N.S.
- One of the larger primary schools: 377 pupils, against a typical 131.
- About as many pupils as in 2019/20 (−10%).
- Teaches through English, with Irish as a subject.
- 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.
- Its patron is the Archbishop of Tuam; its ethos is Catholic.
- Outside Castlebar’s outline, 1.5 km away; listed with Castlebar, the nearest town in its county.
Pupils over time
2015/16 to 2025/26Breaffy N.S. had 377 pupils in 2025/26, down from 433 in 2015/16 (−13%). Girls are 50% of them. Its roll rose in 3 of the 10 years.
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year; girls and boys where the lists give them.
No letter for Breaffy N.S.
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 Breaffy N.S. 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.
Inspection reports on Breaffy N.S.
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 a place at Breaffy N.S.
Every school admits under its own published admission policy; no admissions numbers are published.
Families apply to Breaffy N.S. 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.
No figures on applications are published, but the roll shows demand: Breaffy N.S. has shrunk by 10% since 2019/20. All the schools around Castlebar together changed by +9%.
Pupils since 2019/20
Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; Department of Education enrolments 2019/20 and 2025/26 (preliminary).
Side by side with the nearest primary schools
2025/26The 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 Breaffy N.S.. Since 2019/20 its roll has changed by −10%; 3 of the 5 grew faster.
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breaffy N.S. | 377 | −10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | |
| Gaelscoil Raifteirí | 229 | −1% | Catholic | All in Irish | 3.6 km | |
| S.N. Fiondalbha | 37 | +28% | Catholic | English | 3.9 km | |
| Castlebar Educate Together National School | 113 | +77% | Multi-denominational | English | 4.3 km | |
| Castlebar Primary School | 864 | – | Catholic | English | 4.3 km | |
| S.N. Beal Caradh | 109 | −16% | Catholic | English | 4.9 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Brid C | 21 | −63% | Catholic | English | 6 km |
The other 144 primary schools in Co. Mayo
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Peters N.S. | 271 | −10% | Catholic | English | 6.3 km | |
| St Josephs N.S. | 111 | +10% | Catholic | English | 7 km | |
| Ballyvary Central N.S. | 223 | +8% | Catholic | English | 7 km | |
| S N an Teaghlaigh | 45 | −32% | Catholic | English | 7.3 km | |
| S.N. B Curnanool | 66 | +22% | Catholic | English | 7.8 km | |
| SN Beal Atha na hEin | 95 | +12% | Catholic | English | 7.8 km | |
| Crimlin N.S. | 15 | −35% | Catholic | English | 8.2 km | |
| Scoil Naisiunta Balla Aluinn | 202 | +7% | Catholic | English | 9 km | |
| Clogher N.S. | 50 | +85% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 9.8 km |
| St Paul's National School | 89 | +16% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 10 km |
| Ballintubber N.S. | 113 | +23% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| Craggagh N.S. | 19 | −49% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| S.N. Peadar agus Pol | 45 | −25% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Mount Pleasant N.S. | 87 | +1% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| S.N. Mainistir Muigheo | 84 | −3% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| S.N. Coill an Bhaile | 41 | +86% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 13 km |
| Scoil Naisiunta Thola | 84 | −13% | Catholic | English | 13 km | |
| Burriscarra N.S. | 23 | – | Catholic | English | 13 km | |
| S.N. Gort an Eadain | 28 | +27% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| S.N. Colm Naofa | 27 | −18% | Catholic | English | 15 km | |
| S.N. Cnoc Ruscaighe | 206 | +0% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 15 km |
| Kiltimagh Central | 262 | +9% | Catholic | English | 16 km | |
| Rathbane N.S. | 57 | −2% | Catholic | English | 16 km | |
| S.N. Faitche | 137 | +40% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 17 km |
| Cloondaff N.S. | 11 | −52% | Catholic | English | 17 km | |
| Scoil na gCoillini | 97 | +11% | Catholic | English | 17 km | |
| Foxford Central N.S. | 271 | +10% | Catholic | English | 17 km | |
| St Mary's National School | 51 | +19% | Catholic | English | 17 km | |
| S.N. an Coill Mhor | 17 | −32% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 17 km |
| Kinaffe N.S. | 48 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 18 km |
| Holy Trinity National School | 41 | −33% | Church of Ireland | English | 19 km | |
| Scoil Phadraig | 338 | +0% | Catholic | English | 19 km | |
| S.N. Teach Caoin | 33 | −42% | Catholic | English | 19 km | |
| Robeen Central N.S. | 127 | +51% | Catholic | English | 19 km | |
| Barnacarroll Central N.S. | 208 | +21% | Catholic | English | 20 km | |
| Gaelscoil na Cuaiche | 208 | −4% | Catholic | All in Irish | 20 km | |
| Claremorris National School | 314 | – | Catholic | English | 20 km | |
| Westport Educate Together National School | 48 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 20 km | |
| S.N. Ceathru an Chlochar | 35 | +6% | Catholic | English | 20 km | |
| Newport Central | 243 | +13% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 20 km |
| Bunscoil Naomh Bríd agus Pádraíg | 46 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 21 km |
| S.N. Lainn Cille | 66 | +3% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 21 km |
| S.N. Leath Ardan | 76 | +17% | Catholic | English | 21 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Colm Cille | 206 | +10% | Catholic | English | 21 km | |
| S.N. an Trian Lair | 66 | −7% | Catholic | English | 21 km | |
| Knock N.S. | 152 | +4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 21 km |
| Swinford N.S. | 200 | +1% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 22 km |
| Scoil Náisiúnta Thuar Mhic Éadaigh | 94 | +1% | Catholic | All in Irish | 22 km | |
| Myna N.S. | 102 | +4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 22 km |
| S.N. Naomh Padraig | 148 | −5% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 22 km |
| S.N. Uileog de Burca | 105 | −15% | Catholic | All in Irish | 23 km | |
| Cloghans N.S. | 9 | −68% | Catholic | English | 23 km | |
| Carraholly N.S. | 42 | −49% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 23 km |
| Lehinch N.S. | 8 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 24 km |
| Killasser N.S. | 31 | +11% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 24 km |
| Brackloon N.S. | 145 | −5% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 24 km |
| St Johns N.S. | 27 | −53% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 24 km |
| Scoil Naomh Feichin | 26 | −43% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 25 km |
| Scoil Chomain Naofa | 82 | −12% | Catholic | English | 25 km | |
| Meelickmore N.S. | 81 | +25% | Catholic | English | 25 km | |
| St. Josephs N.S. | 451 | −1% | Catholic | English | 25 km | |
| S.N. Nmh Treasa | 57 | +78% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 25 km |
| Culmore N.S. | 33 | −28% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 26 km |
| S.N. Sheamais | 18 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 26 km |
| S.N. Chluain Luifin | 75 | +17% | Catholic | English | 26 km | |
| Scoil Néifinn | 11 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 27 km |
| Carrakennedy N.S. | 32 | −22% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 27 km |
| Ballindine B N.S. | 138 | +20% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| St Joseph's NS | 217 | −12% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 27 km |
| Kilmurry NS | 65 | +3% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 27 km |
| Garracloon N.S. | 25 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 27 km |
| Beacan Mixed N.S. | 177 | +18% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| Muirisc N.S. | 49 | +104% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| St Marys N.S. | 93 | −4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 28 km |
| S.N. Gort Sceiche | 75 | −6% | Catholic | English | 28 km | |
| Cloonlyon N.S. | 28 | −40% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 28 km |
| Scoil Cholmcille | 231 | −5% | Catholic | English | 28 km | |
| Crossmolina N.S. | 235 | +5% | Catholic | English | 28 km | |
| Saint Michaels N.S. | 17 | – | Church of Ireland | English | 29 km | |
| Scoil Íosa | 242 | +31% | Catholic | Some subjects in Irish | ✓ | 30 km |
| S.N. Coill Mor | 6 | – | Catholic | English | 30 km | |
| Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maol | 141 | +16% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 30 km |
| St Patricks Central N.S. | 117 | +4% | Catholic | English | 30 km | |
| Tavrane Central N.S. | 11 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 30 km |
| Lecanvey N.S. | 31 | +0% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| SN na hAille | 140 | +9% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| Irishtown N.S. | 70 | +15% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| Ardagh National School | 73 | – | Catholic | Some subjects in Irish | 31 km | |
| S.N. Brighde | 103 | −10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 31 km |
| S.N. Tamhnighan Fheadha | 15 | −32% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| Beheymore N.S. | 228 | +0% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 31 km |
| S.N. Athracht Nfa | 268 | +41% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| Knockanillo N.S. | 28 | −24% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 32 km |
| S.N. Muine Chonallain | 133 | +56% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 32 km |
| Quignamanger N.S. | 364 | +13% | Catholic | English | 32 km | |
| Cullens N.S. | 273 | +12% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 33 km |
| Scoil Iosa | 385 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 33 km |
| St Johns N.S. | 32 | −9% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 33 km |
| Gortjordan N.S. | 11 | −48% | Catholic | English | 34 km | |
| SN Baile Cuisin | 13 | −35% | Catholic | English | 34 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Feichin | 47 | −33% | Catholic | English | 34 km | |
| Cooneal N.S. | 58 | −41% | Catholic | English | 36 km | |
| Cormaic Nfa | 38 | −5% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 36 km |
| S N Realt na Mara | 77 | +51% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 37 km |
| Carracastle Central N.S. | 88 | +35% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 37 km |
| S.N. Naomh Sheosamh | 99 | −13% | Catholic | English | 37 km | |
| Glencorrib N.S. | 52 | +86% | Catholic | English | 38 km | |
| Newtownwhite Educate Together NS | 59 | +7% | Multi-denominational | English | 38 km | |
| S.N. Padraig Naofa | 133 | −17% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 38 km |
| Kilmovee N.S. | 51 | +0% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 38 km |
| Mount Palmer National School | 37 | −3% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 40 km |
| SN Naomh Proinnsias | 32 | −9% | Catholic | English | 41 km | |
| Killala N.S. | 85 | −13% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 41 km |
| Drumgallagh N.S. | 33 | +10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 41 km |
| S N Toin na Gaoithe | 61 | +7% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 42 km |
| St Colmans N.S. | 34 | +31% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 42 km |
| Templemary N.S. | 47 | +21% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 43 km |
| S.N. Druim Slaod | 8 | −60% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 44 km |
| S.N. Teaghlaigh Naofa | 67 | −11% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 44 km |
| Achill Sound Convent N.S. | 20 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 46 km |
| Lacken National School | 25 | −11% | Catholic | Some subjects in Irish | ✓ | 46 km |
| Scoil Chroí Ró Naofa Beannchor Iorrais | 61 | +61% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 46 km |
| S.N. Naomh Padraig Saile | 65 | +38% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 48 km |
| Scoil Naomh Brid | 67 | −3% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 49 km |
| St Patricks N.S. | 11 | – | Catholic | English | 50 km | |
| Valley N.S. | 17 | −26% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 52 km |
| S N Dhumha Thuama | 26 | −4% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 52 km |
| Geesala Central School | 29 | −31% | Catholic | Some subjects in Irish | ✓ | 53 km |
| Dookinella N.S. | 26 | +4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 55 km |
| S.N. an Tsraith | 15 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 58 km |
| Barnatra N.S. | 24 | +9% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 58 km |
| S.N. Gleann A Chaisil | 64 | +10% | Catholic | Some subjects in Irish | ✓ | 58 km |
| St Columbas N.S. | 3 | – | Catholic | English | ✓ | 59 km |
| S.N. Pol A Tsomais | 27 | +13% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 59 km |
| S.N. Dumhach | 28 | −28% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 59 km |
| S.N. Ros Dumhach | 27 | +23% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 61 km |
| S.N. Inbhear | 67 | +20% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 61 km |
| SN Cholmcille, Ceathrú Thaidhg | 26 | – | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 64 km |
| S.N. Eachleime | 64 | +45% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 64 km |
| S.N. Achaidh an Ghlaisin | 48 | +0% | Catholic | Some subjects in Irish | ✓ | 64 km |
| S.N. Croi Muire | 127 | +6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 65 km |
| S.N. Beal an Mhuirthead | 58 | −22% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 65 km |
| Cill Mhor Iorrais | 20 | −57% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 66 km |
| Corclough N.S. | 79 | −4% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 69 km |
Living in Castlebar
The town’s figures, not this street’s.
Homes in the F23 Eircode area
Housing in Castlebar →The median sale price rose from €210,000 in 2023 to €280,000 in 2025 (+33%).
New against second-hand, 2023 to 2025
Property Price Register sales in the F23 Eircode routing area, 2023 to 2025.
Renting in Castlebar
Cost of living in Castlebar →New tenancies in Castlebar averaged €1,247 a month in 2025, against €1,138 in 2024 (+10%).
Residential Tenancies Board rent index, new tenancies, 2024 and 2025.
Location
Directions ↗near Castlebar, F23 WF99
Primary schools near Breaffy N.S.
Nearest first, as the crow flies, up to 25 km. Each school’s own admission policy decides who gets a place.
Questions about Breaffy N.S.
Is Breaffy N.S. 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 Breaffy N.S. have?
377 pupils in 2025/26. That is −10% since 2019/20.
Does Breaffy N.S. teach through Irish?
No: Breaffy N.S. teaches in English, with Irish as a subject.
Who runs Breaffy N.S.?
Breaffy N.S. has a Catholic ethos. Its patron is Archbishop of Tuam.
How do pupils get a place at Breaffy N.S.?
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 Breaffy N.S.?
The nearest are Gaelscoil Raifteirí (3.6 km), S.N. Fiondalbha (3.9 km) and Castlebar Educate Together National School (4.3 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 Castlebar; 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).