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Creagh National School (Irish: Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál) is a primary school in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland. Originally founded in 1939, it is a Catholic boys and girls national school located on the outskirts of Ballinasloe in the civil parish of Creagh. As of 2019, the school had 415 pupils and approximately thirty staff, making it the largest national school (by number of pupils) in the Ballinasloe catchment area.

History and development

Creagh National School was opened in 1939 in Creagh outside Ballinasloe, initially with just two teachers and 87 pupils. First opened down the Creagh Road, the school was moved to the current location in 1939.

Later developments include the "two million construction project", which involved the development or extension of six mainstream classrooms, five tutorial rooms, an extension to the school hall and a library. Begun in 2009, the school marked the official opening of the extensions in September 2012. A new astro-turf pitch was opened to coincide with the school's 75th anniversary celebrations in 2014.

In June 2023, a funding allocation of almost €700,000 was approved in order to provide two new modular classrooms at the school, including their first ever special education class. The classrooms were completed in November and opened by the Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan.

As of 2021, Áine Ní Cholleráin (Bleahene) was the acting principal of Creagh National School.

Events and fundraising

A St Brigid's cross fundraiser is held on 1 February, St Brigid's Day, every year. Other fundraising events include Christmas singalong, cake sale, and confirmation fundraisers, with much of the money raised going to causes in Tanzania.

With pupils from 27 different cultural backgrounds, the school participates in the Yellow Flag diversity programme, and celebrated two "intercultural days" in 2019.

Notable alumni

• Beibhinn Parsons, Ireland women's rugby union international
• Shane Jennings, rugby union player
• Colm Reilly, rugby union player
• Heather Payne, women's footballer playing for the Ireland national team

References

1. ^ "S N MUIRE GAN SMAL". Gov.ie. Department of Education. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
2. "Creagh National School – End of Year Newsletter" (PDF). www.creaghnsonline.com. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
3. "Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál, Creagh, Ballinasloe" (PDF). www.creaghnsonline.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
4. ^ "Whole School Evaluation - Management, Leadership and Learning - Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Creagh, Ballinasloe" (PDF). education.ie. Department of Education and Skills. 7 November 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2021.
5. "National School Numbers Holding - Enrolments in the Catchment Area" (PDF). Ballinasloe Life. Vol. 9, no. 4. October 2019. p. 27. Retrieved 29 October 2019. Creagh NS remains the school with the largest number of pupils at 415
6. ^ "Creagh NS Celebrates 75 Years". Ballinasloe Life. Vol. 4, no. 6. February 2015. p. 45. Retrieved 29 October 2019. Principal Stephanie Keating spoke of how the school has developed through the years; from a small rural two-teacher school with a modest 87 pupils in 1939 The official opening of the school's new Astro Turf Pitch among many significant moments of the day
7. Our Local Environment Week: Day 3: A History Of Creagh N.S. With Miss Blade. 9 June 2020. 2:53 minutes in. Retrieved 13 June 2020 – via YouTube.
8. "Official Opening and Blessing of Recent Extension to Creagh NS". creaghns.com. Creagh National School. 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
9. Cusack, Adrian (6 June 2023). "Ballinasloe school set to expand with addition of two modular classrooms". Westmeath Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
10. "Planning Developments Updates" (PDF). Ballinasloe Life. Vol. 13, no. 2. p. 4. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
11. "Junior Minister for Special Education to visit Ballinasloe schools this morning". Galway Bay FM. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
12. "Final Revised Creagh NS December Newsletter" (PDF). Creagh National School. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
13. "St. Brigid's Crosses 2017". creaghns.com. Creagh National School. 15 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
14. "Coffee and Cake Sale in aid of 6th Class Tanzanian Project - Creagh NS". ballinasloe.ie. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
15. "Confirmation donations help build primary school – in Tanzania". connachttribune.ie. Connacht Tribune. 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
16. "Creagh National School's Intercultural Days 2019". creaghns.com. Creagh National School. 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
17. "Congratulations to past pupil Beibhinn Parsons!". www.creaghnsonline.com. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
18. "Past Pupils congratulate 6th Class on their graduation with inspiring video messages". www.creaghnsonline.com. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
19. creaghschool (14 March 2021). "We are very proud of our past pupil Colm Reilly on receiving his new professional rugby contract with @connachtrugby. Congratulations to Colm and his family from everyone at Creagh" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 July 2022 – via Twitter.
20. "Heather Payne visits the school to present us with our 4th Active Flag". www.creaghnsonline.com. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
21. McCaughley, Ciara (16 June 2022). "International star returns to former primary school". Roscommon Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2022.

External links

• Creagh National School - Official Website

• 1939 establishments in Ireland
• Ballinasloe
• Educational institutions established in 1939
• Primary schools in County Galway