Cashelshanaghan National School
School Details
Location
About
Cashelshanaghan National School is a small, two‑teacher primary school situated four miles outside Letterkenny on the R245 (Letterkenny‑Ramelton Road). Operating under the patronage of the Presbytery of Derry & Donegal, the school maintains a low pupil‑to‑teacher ratio that enables a child‑centred approach, encouraging both challenge and support to foster a lifelong love of learning. The curriculum blends the Irish national programme with the Aistear framework for early years, and integrates digital learning through shared tablets, allowing pupils to develop ICT skills across subjects. The school’s facilities comprise two classrooms: the historic senior room housed in the original 1897 building and a modern junior room added in 2005, both described as airy and welcoming spaces. A strong emphasis is placed on holistic development, with a wide range of extracurricular activities including swimming, gymnastics, music, drama, paired reading, and participation in the Green Schools, Peace IV, and Active Schools programmes. These initiatives promote environmental awareness, shared education, and physical wellbeing, creating a vibrant, inclusive community for pupils.
History
Cashelshanaghan National School was built in 1897 and operated as a one‑teacher school until 1996. The original building now accommodates the senior classes. In 2005 the school was extended with a new classroom for junior classes, sympathetically linking the old and new structures to provide a warm, colourful environment for pupils and staff.