Scoil Naisiunta Naomh Seosamh
School Details
Location
About
Ballymurray National School is a mainstream, co‑educational primary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Elphin, located a short five‑minute drive from Roscommon town in the parish of Knockcroghery. The school welcomes boys and girls from Junior Infants through to Sixth Class, offering a curriculum that aims to provide high‑quality learning experiences where every child is encouraged and enabled to reach their full and unique potential. A strong emphasis is placed on fostering a positive atmosphere and a tight‑knit community that supports effective learning and personal development for all pupils. The school’s facilities have been continually modernised. It now comprises five contemporary classrooms, two Special Educational Needs (SET) rooms, a staff room, the principal’s office and ample storage. Outdoor provisions include a new agility trail, extensive yard space, a purpose‑built school pitch and a sensory garden that serves both children with sensory needs and as an outdoor classroom. These resources, together with a range of extracurricular activities such as sports quizzes, GAA blitzes and science trips, reflect the school’s commitment to a well‑rounded education.
History
Ballymurray National School was built in 1886 on the site of a former church, replacing two earlier National Board buildings. Originally it had separate entrances for boys and girls, with a teachers’ communicating door, and a small playground for the girls while the boys played football across the road. The first headmaster was Walter Watson, assisted by Mrs. Kenny. The school lacked running water and electric lighting until 1956, when a major reconstruction replaced windows and doors, shifted the entrance, and added a turf shed and two play sheds. Further renovations occurred in 1987, introducing a prefab classroom, modernised toilets, a staff room and central heating. A second prefab was added in 2007, followed by a major extension in 2012 that provided two new classrooms and a cloakroom. In 2015 all prefabs were removed and replaced with two state‑of‑the‑art classrooms, a store room and an accessible toilet. Recent developments have added an additional classroom, a new car park, expanded yard space and a new school pitch. The school now comprises five modern classrooms, two SET rooms, a staff room, the principal’s office and various storage rooms, alongside extensive outdoor facilities.