Ballymana National School
School Details
Location
About
Ballymana National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in the village of Ballymana, Craughwell, County Galway, directly adjacent to St Killian’s Church. The school provides a modern, innovative learning environment across five classrooms, each equipped with its own male and female facilities, a dedicated school office and two specialised learning‑support rooms. Recent upgrades include a freshly laid tarmacadam playground, reseeded sports fields and a newly constructed handball court, complemented by a customised playground created by the parents committee in 2009. The educational ethos combines a strong academic programme with a broad range of extra‑curricular activities designed to promote physical health, creativity and cultural awareness. Pupils can take part in traditional Irish sports such as hurling, camogie, football and handball, as well as enjoy Spanish language lessons, after‑school art classes and a breakfast club. The school also embraces the Green Flag environmental award, health‑promoting initiatives and Creative Schools projects, fostering an inclusive and supportive community for all learners.
History
Ballymana National School was established in 1872 with a single classroom; the original north‑end gable remains unchanged. The first principal was Patrick Ruane. A second classroom was added in 1931, separated by a folding partition and heated by an open fire, with pupils bringing a sod of turf each day. Further development occurred in 1993, followed by the addition of a third classroom in 2004 and a large fourth classroom in 2005. In 2008 the school was transformed into a modern five‑classroom facility with an office and two learning‑support rooms, each with separate male and female amenities. The playground received a fresh tarmac surface, fields were reseeded, and a handball court was built; in 2009 a customised playground was erected by the parents committee. The school remains situated beside St Killian’s Church in Ballymana, Craughwell, Co Galway.