ST JOHNS N S
School Details
About
Carramore National School is a rural primary school situated near the town of Swinford in County Mayo. The school provides a full‑time curriculum for infants, junior and senior classes, blending traditional Irish teaching methods with a strong emphasis on creative arts and outdoor learning. Pupils regularly engage in music programmes that include whistle, guitar, harp, chimes and samba drums, and the school supports Gaelic games, having celebrated recent successes in county semi‑finals. The campus has been expanded over recent decades and now includes an astro‑turf pitch, a basketball court and a modern sports hall, all of which are used for physical‑activity programmes and outdoor education trips such as the annual senior tour to the Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre. A vibrant community ethos is evident through projects that involve families, local heritage research and performances at venues such as Knock Airport, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural pride among the children.
History
The original Carramore school was built in 1853 on land owned by the Casey family. In 1913 the present building, St John’s, was erected on a site provided by the Doyle family. A front classroom was added in 1923, and although land was set aside for a teacher’s residence, it was never constructed. Major extensions in 2007 introduced an astro‑turf pitch, basketball court and sports hall, and the school marked its centenary in 2013. Further development in 2016 added a new junior classroom and extended the 1923 classroom. By 2017 the enrolment stood at 76 pupils.