St Michael's National School Woodbrook
School Details
Location
About
St Michael’s National School, Woodbrook is a small rural primary school situated in the parish of Croghan, just five minutes from Carrick‑on‑Shannon in the Roscommon countryside. The school operates with two teachers and a shared support teacher, catering for approximately 25 pupils from infants through to sixth class. Its educational ethos is firmly rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition, aiming to foster the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual development of each child while encouraging a living relationship with God and the wider community. The school day runs from 9.25 am to 2.10 pm for infants and to 3.10 pm for older classes, with a healthy eating policy that includes packed lunches for the first break and an optional Hot Meals Programme for the second break. The campus embraces a strong environmental focus. A historic school garden houses chickens, rabbits and a pollinator area for bees, and a poly‑tunnel is used to grow vegetables and flowers. These initiatives have earned the school multiple garden awards and its ninth Green Flag (May 2024) under the Green Schools’ Scheme, as well as fair‑trade school status. Sporting life is vibrant, with recent successes in Cumann na mBunscol and primary school soccer competitions, reflecting a balanced emphasis on both academic and extracurricular achievement. Transport options include a local Link Bus and a KinderKare before‑ and after‑school service, encouraging walking, cycling and car‑pooling in line with the school’s sustainability goals. The school’s motto, “Cherishing the Past and Challenging the Future,” underpins its commitment to preserving its 1857 heritage while providing a forward‑looking, inclusive learning environment.
History
The school was constructed in 1857 by Major John Kirkwood of the Woodbrook estate to educate the children of his tenants and workers, and he also sent his own children there. Over 162 years later it remains the last standing remnant of that original legacy, continuing to serve the local community as a small, two‑teacher primary school.