Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara
Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara is a secondary school irish-medium in Galway. 117 pupils, Inter-denominational ethos, DEIS Post-primary.
The facts
| Type | Secondary school |
|---|---|
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ethos | Inter-denominational |
| Patron | Galway & Roscommon ETB & Religious Sisters of Mercy |
| Fees | Free |
| Enrolment | 117 (58 boys, 59 girls) 2025/26 |
| Language of instruction | Irish Medium School |
| DEIS | Yes — Post-primary |
| Roll number | 91411K |
| Eircode | H91DH50 |
| Address | Carna, Co na Gaillimhe |
What DEIS means here
DEIS Post-primary. This is extra staffing, a Home School Community Liaison coordinator, School Completion Programme access, enhanced capitation, free State exam fees, and eligibility for the HEAR Scheme for reduced-points college entry.
Post-primary DEIS benefits: Free State examination fees for Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate, Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) coordinator, School Completion Programme, and eligibility for the HEAR Scheme (Higher Education Access Route) offering reserved university places at reduced CAO points across Irish universities.
Worth knowing: several things people associate with DEIS are now available in every school. Schoolbooks are free at primary and post-primary regardless of DEIS status, and since 2025 all primary schools are eligible for the hot school meals programme. What remains specific to DEIS is the staffing — reduced class sizes in Urban Band 1, the Home School Community Liaison coordinator, School Completion Programme access and enhanced capitation.
Band as published in the Department's DEIS list, last revised 2022-10-12.
Special classes
The NCSE lists no special class at this school for the coming year.
The area around this school
School planning area: Carna. This is how the Department plans where to build capacity. It is not a catchment.
Local house prices: the median residential sale price in Eircode district H91 (Galway) was €404,999 in 2025. That is up 47.3% since 2020. CSO figures for the whole district, not the streets beside the school.
Area profile: the Pobal HP Deprivation Index rates Skannive at -12.89 (Disadvantaged), where 0 is the national average. 26% of adults there hold a third-level qualification.
Contact
| Principal | Dara Ó Maoilchiaráin |
|---|---|
| Phone | 095 32245 |
| eolas@spmd.ie | |
| Local authority | Galway County Council |
Other schools in Carna
- S N An Ard Mhoir Primary school, Galway
- S N Ard Primary school, Galway
- S N Mhuire Primary school, Galway
- S N Naomh Ciarain Primary school, Galway
- S N Naomh Colmain Primary school, Galway
- S N Naomh Treasa Primary school, Galway
How we know
DoE Schools GIS 2026 (CC BY 4.0) — checked 2026-08-27.