About Us
St. Patrick’s National School, Ballinamuck, Co. Longford opened its doors in January 2002 as a result of amalgamation of Gaigue N.S. and Kiltycreevagh National School. The site of the school was the old Céard Scoil situated at Gaigue Cross. The Céard Scoil provided post primary for the surrounding areas and closed its doors in 1974 when it became part of Moyne Community School, Co. Longford.
The Staff on opening day were Ms. Bernadette McWeeney (Principal), Ms. Ita Murtagh, Ms. Maureen Mulvey and Ms. Dolores Tuohy. On opening we had 74 pupils. It is a co-ed Catholic School catering for children from Junior Infants to 6th Class. At present from September 2020 there are 84 pupils, 6 teachers, 4 Mainstream teachers, 1 Learning Support and 1 shared resource teacher.
School Ethos
The ethos of this school is Catholic and is managed by a Board of Management under the patronship of the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Bishop Francis Duffy. We seek to promote and atmosphere which is welcoming, tolerant, open, listening, safe, caring, inclusive, aesthetically pleasing and fun. We are proactive in our efforts to achieve this environment through our language and our actions. The teachers see parents/guardians as partners in this process.
Our Vision
Our Vision is that of caring, loving Catholic School where all children, whatever their ability, race or creed are cherished for their uniqueness. Our school seeks to give equal opportunity to all children to reach their full potential — academically, spiritually, physically, socially and emotionally.
We endeavour to achieve this goal in a climate of positive co-operation, support by the entire school community of pupils, teachers, support staff, parents/guardians, Board of Management and Parish.
Our Mission
The Staff of St. Patrick’s National School seeks actively, through word and action, to create a happy climate of physical, emotional, social and intellectual security for students, staff and parents/guardians. In this way teaching and learning can take place within the context of mutual valuing and respecting relationships.
The teachers of St. Patrick’s N. S. see education not just as providing students with knowledge and skills but also as providing for the all round development of the individual. We believe each child has a unique and special contribution to make. We believe every child matters. We strive to develop independence in our students together with the ability to self evaluate, self motivate and internalise discipline. We want out students to be happy with themselves, others and their world. We want our pupils to enjoy school.
WE ENDEAVOUR TO ACHIEVE QUALITY IN ALL THAT WE DO.
These aspirations can only be achieved through the co-operation of students, teachers, support staff, parents/guardians, Board of Management and Parish. We believe it takes a village to raise a child.
Ní Neart go cur le chéile
Our School Motto - Oideachas is Misneach
Oideachas means learning/education. In this, our school motto, it means the rounded education of each and every boy and girl who passes through its doors. Rounded education means learning from books; learning music and singing; learning sports and games – P.E; learning how to be the best person we can be now, and in our future life. We also learn about our Christian values, our Catholic faith.
Misneach means courage and the pig on our school crest is a symbol of courage. Misneach also means hope, confidence, and strength. We all need these in our lives. Our vision for each boy and girl in this school is that you will have these essential life skills forever, have confidence in yourselves and pride in who you are and where you come from.
“Face the sun and let the shadows fall behind you.”
Our School Crest
- The shape chosen is a shield symbolising defence in battle/in life)
- The background colours are maroon and gold – the GAA colours of our local football team.
- The mitre, crozier and shamrock remind us of St Patrick, our school and patron saint, who was a bishop.
- The canon, pike and graip (three-pronged fork) symbolise the Battle of Ballinamuck in 1798. The two flags in the background are those of France and Ireland to remind us that the French came to help us in the fight for freedom.
- The book symbolises our learning from books; the musical instruments and notes represent our learning in music and singing; the football reminds us of our love of gaelic football, other sports and our P.E. The football also reminds us of our proud tradition in Cumann na mBunscoil competitions; school boys, girls and mixed.
- The pig represents the legendary black pig that was being chased, so went underground. He surfaced at the river below the village. The dyke formed the boundary between Ulster and Leinster. The woods in the background symbolise the two townlands where two national schools existed in the past. They came together into this present-day school building. The townlands are Kiltycreevagh which is Coillte Craobhacha and Gaigue which Géag, in Irish.
- Coillte Craobhacha means woods of branches, and Geag – means branches. So, these two townlands were wooded areas.
Board of Management
The School is run by the Board of Management. Board of Management includes:
- Fr. Bernard Hogan (Patron’s nominee)
- Mary McKenna (chairperson/ Patron nominee)
- Damien McIntyre (Principal)
- Marie Kenny (teacher representative)
- Darren Cunningham and Sharon McKenna (parents representatives)
- Tommie Leslie and Pauline Larkin (local representative)