Ballinlough N.S.
Ballinlough, Kells, Co. Meath · A82 PX57 · Roll number 09238I
Ballinlough N.S. is one of 2 primary schools in or within 3 km of Crossakeel. Every school in and around Crossakeel →
What stands out about Ballinlough N.S.
- A small primary school: 58 pupils, against a typical 131.
- Teaches through English, with Irish as a subject.
- Smaller than it was: 58 pupils, 25% fewer than the 77 of 2019/20.
- Has special classes for children who need more support.
- 41 girls and 17 boys: more of one than the other.
- Its patron is the Bishop of Meath; its ethos is Catholic.
- Outside Crossakeel’s outline, 1.9 km away; listed with Crossakeel, the nearest town in its county.
Pupils over time
2015/16 to 2025/26Ballinlough N.S. had 58 pupils in 2025/26, down from 98 in 2015/16 (−41%). Girls are 71% of them. Its roll rose in 2 of the 10 years.
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year; girls and boys where the lists give them.
No letter for Ballinlough 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 Ballinlough 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 Ballinlough 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 Ballinlough N.S.
Every school admits under its own published admission policy; no admissions numbers are published.
Families apply to Ballinlough 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.
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: Ballinlough N.S. has shrunk by 25% since 2019/20. All the schools around Crossakeel together changed by −12%.
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.
Each of the 6 nearest primary schools has more pupils than Ballinlough N.S.. Since 2019/20 its roll has changed by −25%; 5 of the 6 grew faster.
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinlough N.S. | 58 | −25% | Catholic | English | ||
| Kilskyre Mixed N.S. | 87 | −1% | Catholic | English | 4.7 km | |
| Carnaross N.S. | 178 | +0% | Catholic | English | 5.3 km | |
| Drumbarragh N.S. | 83 | −13% | Catholic | English | 5.8 km | |
| Cluain Maolain N.S. | 178 | −21% | Catholic | English | 7.6 km | |
| S.N. Carraig A Bruis | 103 | −31% | Catholic | English | 7.8 km | |
| Cnoc an Teampaill | 158 | +19% | Catholic | English | 8.9 km |
The other 109 primary schools in Co. Meath
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilson National School | 222 | −17% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 9.5 km |
| Scoil Mhuire N.S. | 94 | +19% | Catholic | English | 9.6 km | |
| Scoil Cholmcille | 352 | −5% | Catholic | English | 10 km | |
| Our Lady of Mercy N.S. | 313 | −3% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| Kells Parochial N.S. | 52 | −30% | Church of Ireland | English | 11 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 122 | −11% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| S.N. Bhrighde | 111 | +9% | Catholic | English | 13 km | |
| S.N. Muire | 165 | +16% | Catholic | English | 13 km | |
| S.N. Fiach | 102 | +34% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| O'Growney National School | 382 | +7% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| Ughtyneill N.S. | 31 | +7% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| S.N. an Rath Mhor | 45 | −46% | Catholic | English | 15 km | |
| Scoil Nais Naomh Aine | 12 | −52% | Catholic | English | 15 km | |
| S.N. Caitriona Naofa | 149 | +7% | Catholic | English | 16 km | |
| Kilbeg N.S. | 85 | −1% | Catholic | English | 16 km | |
| Scoil Uí Ghramhnaigh | 169 | −18% | Catholic | All in Irish | 17 km | |
| Bohermeen N.S. | 237 | −5% | Catholic | English | 18 km | |
| S.N. Ultain Naofa | 80 | −11% | Catholic | All in Irish | 19 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 15 | −40% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 19 km |
| St. Dympna's National School | 210 | −5% | Catholic | English | 19 km | |
| Kilmainham Wood N.S. | 118 | −1% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 19 km |
| S.N. Cill Bhrighde | 200 | +45% | Catholic | English | 21 km | |
| Scoil Naomh Barra | 238 | +14% | Catholic | English | 21 km | |
| Scoil Eoin Báiste | 123 | +21% | Catholic | English | 21 km | |
| Castletown N.S. | 102 | −6% | Catholic | English | 21 km | |
| S.N. Nmh Sheosamh | 136 | −7% | Catholic | English | 21 km | |
| S.N. Seosamh Naomtha | 100 | −15% | Catholic | English | 22 km | |
| S.N. Columbain | 233 | −37% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 22 km |
| Scoil Naomh Eoin | 375 | +6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 23 km |
| Carrickleck N.S. | 26 | −26% | Catholic | English | 23 km | |
| Navan Educate Together NS | 213 | −5% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 24 km |
| S.N. Mhuire | 205 | +16% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 24 km |
| St Pauls N.S. | 761 | +4% | Catholic | English | 24 km | |
| Mercy Convent N.S. | 385 | −13% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 24 km |
| Aine Naofa N.S. | 312 | −2% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 24 km |
| St Oliver Plunkett N.S. | 399 | −10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 24 km |
| Flowerfield N.S. | 40 | −11% | Church of Ireland | English | 24 km | |
| St Patricks N.S. | 48 | −19% | Church of Ireland | English | 25 km | |
| Gaelscoil Eanna | 138 | −32% | Catholic | All in Irish | 25 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 194 | +5% | Catholic | English | 25 km | |
| St Marys Convent N.S. | 521 | −10% | Catholic | English | 25 km | |
| Scoil Mhichil na Buachailli | 294 | −7% | Catholic | English | 25 km | |
| Ard Rí Community National School | 384 | +48% | Multi-denominational | English | 26 km | |
| Trim Educate Together National School | 174 | +72% | Multi-denominational | English | 26 km | |
| Gaelscoil na Boinne | 206 | −9% | Catholic | All in Irish | 26 km | |
| S.N. Bhrighde | 91 | +3% | Catholic | English | 26 km | |
| Scoil Naomh Bride | 181 | −9% | Catholic | English | 26 km | |
| Scoil Bhríde | 392 | −2% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| Stackallen N.S. | 170 | −11% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| St Stephens N.S. | 805 | −13% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 84 | +6% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| Killyon N.S. | 60 | −34% | Catholic | English | 27 km | |
| S.N. Pheadair agus Phoil | 125 | −7% | Catholic | English | 28 km | |
| Newtown N.S. | 60 | −28% | Catholic | English | 29 km | |
| S.N. Mhichil Naofa | 73 | −15% | Catholic | English | 30 km | |
| Kilmessan Mxd N.S. | 242 | +3% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| Scoil Nais Aitinn Bhui | 211 | −7% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| Scoil Nais Finin Naofa | 63 | −2% | Catholic | English | 31 km | |
| S N na Trionoide Naofa | 233 | −25% | Catholic | English | 32 km | |
| St. Nicholas Primary School | 299 | −24% | Catholic | English | 32 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Padraig | 254 | −9% | Catholic | English | 32 km | |
| Dangan Mixed N.S. | 228 | +12% | Catholic | English | 33 km | |
| Scoil Nais Mhuire Naofa | 113 | +2% | Catholic | English | 33 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Seosamh | 95 | +12% | Catholic | English | 34 km | |
| S.N. Baile Cheant | 214 | −15% | Catholic | English | 35 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Padraig | 148 | −10% | Catholic | English | 35 km | |
| Scoil Naomh Pio | 59 | −13% | Catholic | English | 36 km | |
| S.N. Colmcille | 211 | +2% | Catholic | English | 36 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire | 139 | +6% | Catholic | English | 37 km | |
| Coole N.s, | 164 | +8% | Catholic | English | 37 km | |
| St. Mary's Primary School | 543 | −10% | Catholic | English | 38 km | |
| S.N. Mhuire Naofa | 81 | −19% | Catholic | English | 38 km | |
| S.N. Cul an Mhuilinn | 119 | +16% | Catholic | English | 39 km | |
| Dunshaughlin Community National School | 168 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 40 km | |
| Scoil na Rithe | 222 | −2% | Catholic | All in Irish | 40 km | |
| S.N. Dun Uabhair | 166 | −22% | Catholic | English | 40 km | |
| S.N. Seachnaill Naofa | 622 | +13% | Catholic | English | 41 km | |
| S.N. Bheinn Naofa B | 339 | −10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 41 km |
| S.N. Bheinin Naofa C | 343 | −0% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 41 km |
| S.N. Naomh Cianain | 73 | −13% | Catholic | English | 42 km | |
| St. Joseph's National School | 89 | +3% | Catholic | English | 42 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Colmcille | 109 | +5% | Catholic | English | 44 km | |
| S.N. Rath Riagain | 92 | −10% | Catholic | English | 44 km | |
| S.N. Aindreis Naofa | 107 | −5% | Catholic | English | 44 km | |
| S.N. Padraig Naofa | 137 | +6% | Catholic | English | 44 km | |
| S.N. Rath Beagain | 219 | +16% | Catholic | English | 45 km | |
| Ratoath Junior N.S. | 213 | −44% | Catholic | English | 45 km | |
| Scoil Oilibheir Naofa | 225 | +1% | Catholic | English | 45 km | |
| Ratoath Senior N.S. | 319 | −36% | Catholic | English | 45 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Treasa | 105 | +7% | Catholic | English | 46 km | |
| St Pauls N.S. | 565 | −15% | Catholic | English | 46 km | |
| Gaelscoil na Mí | 242 | −26% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 47 km | |
| Ashbourne Educate Together National School | 410 | −14% | Multi-denominational | English | 48 km | |
| Ashbourne Community National School | 342 | +280% | Multi-denominational | English | 48 km | |
| Scoil Mhuire | 479 | −3% | Catholic | English | 48 km | |
| Gaelscoil an Bhradáin Feasa | 383 | −12% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 48 km | |
| Scoil Nais Deaglain | 621 | −8% | Catholic | English | 48 km | |
| Gaelscoil na Cille | 227 | −2% | Catholic | All in Irish | 49 km | |
| S N Realt na Mara (C) | 373 | −19% | Catholic | English | 50 km | |
| S N Realt na Mara (B) | 373 | −18% | Catholic | English | 50 km | |
| S.N. Cros Ban | 373 | −9% | Catholic | English | 50 km | |
| Dunboyne Junior N.S. | 397 | −18% | Catholic | English | 51 km | |
| Dunboyne Senior N.S. | 470 | −17% | Catholic | English | 51 km | |
| St Peters National School | 97 | +29% | Church of Ireland | English | 51 km | |
| Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg | 360 | +7% | Inter-denominational | All in Irish | 51 km | |
| S.N. Naomh Padraig | 524 | −19% | Catholic | English | 52 km | |
| Scoil Oilibheir Naofa | 397 | −5% | Catholic | English | 52 km | |
| Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh | 438 | −8% | Catholic | English | 52 km | |
| Kilbride National School | 310 | −7% | Catholic | English | 52 km |
Living in Crossakeel
The town’s figures, not this street’s.
Homes in the A82 Eircode area
Housing in Crossakeel →The median sale price rose from €240,000 in 2023 to €310,000 in 2025 (+29%).
New against second-hand, 2023 to 2025
Property Price Register sales in the A82 Eircode routing area, 2023 to 2025.
Renting in Co. Meath
Cost of living in Crossakeel →New tenancies in Co. Meath averaged €1,542 a month in 2025, against €1,434 in 2024 (+8%).
Residential Tenancies Board rent index, new tenancies, 2024 and 2025.
Location
Directions ↗near Crossakeel, A82 PX57
Primary schools near Ballinlough 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 Ballinlough N.S.
Is Ballinlough 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 Ballinlough N.S. have?
58 pupils in 2025/26. That is −25% since 2019/20.
Does Ballinlough N.S. teach through Irish?
No: Ballinlough N.S. teaches in English, with Irish as a subject.
Who runs Ballinlough N.S.?
Ballinlough N.S. has a Catholic ethos. Its patron is Bishop of Meath.
How do pupils get a place at Ballinlough 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 Ballinlough N.S.?
The nearest are Kilskyre Mixed N.S. (4.7 km), Carnaross N.S. (5.3 km) and Drumbarragh N.S. (5.8 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 Crossakeel; 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).