Raharney National School
School Details
Location
About
Raharney National School (Scoil Mhuire) is a mixed, rural primary school situated in the scenic countryside ten miles from Mullingar. The school serves a close‑knit community of roughly 118 pupils, offering a balanced curriculum that blends academic learning with strong emphasis on personal development, social skills and environmental stewardship. A vibrant Green Schools committee underpins the school’s commitment to sustainability, while participation in the Allianz Cúmhná na Bunscol programme provides pupils with regular opportunities to engage in a wide range of sporting activities. The campus has been progressively expanded since its opening in 1960. Modern extensions have added a dedicated learning support room, an additional mainstream classroom, a well‑equipped staff room and a spacious multi‑purpose hall. Upgrades to the electrical system, alarm facilities and playground surface have enhanced safety and comfort. The school’s facilities support both mainstream and special‑education needs, with specialised staff and resources to ensure inclusive learning for all children. Beyond the classroom, Raharney NS fosters a lively extracurricular programme. Pupils regularly compete in hurling, camogie, football and other Cúmhná na Bunscol events, achieving notable success in recent years. The school’s ethos encourages good manners, cooperation and confidence, preparing children for the transition to secondary education and lifelong learning.
History
Raharney National School was built in 1960 by Maguire Brothers of Athboy and originally relied on turf heating supplied by Bord na Móna, with individual stove fires in each classroom. The first manager, Fr Delaney, blessed the school after Sunday Mass and opened it to parents the following day. Early staff included Mr Seamus Brennan, Mrs Swords and Mrs Hegarty, and enrolment quickly rose to just over 100 pupils by 1961. The first extension was added in 1978 by Dunnes of Kinnegad, followed by a further extension in 2007 that provided an extra mainstream classroom and a learning support room. In 2011 a staff room was constructed, and the same year the Summer Works Scheme upgraded the school’s electrical wiring and alarms. A playground resurfacing and treatment system were installed in 2014. Funding from the Department of Education in 2015 enabled the addition of a new classroom, a principal’s office and a large hall, completed with supplementary Board of Management contributions. The school’s teams enjoyed considerable success in Cúmhná na Bunscol competitions in 2016, winning titles in camogie, hurling, football and the Mini 7’s.