Gaelscoil Na Gceithre Maol
Gaelscoil Na Gceithre Maol is a primary school irish-medium in Mayo. 141 pupils, Catholic ethos, DEIS Urban Band 1.
The facts
| Type | Primary school |
|---|---|
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ethos | Catholic |
| Patron | An Foras Pátrúnachta |
| Fees | Free |
| Enrolment | 141 (68 boys, 73 girls) 2025/26 |
| Language of instruction | Irish Medium School |
| DEIS | Yes — Urban Band 1 |
| Roll number | 20084U |
| Eircode | F26N82Y |
| Address | Cearnóg an Mhargaidh, Béal an Átha, Co. Mhaigh Eo |
What DEIS means here
DEIS Urban Band 1. This is the most intensively supported band. Junior classes are capped at 17:1, vertical schools at 19:1 and senior schools at 21:1 — smaller than almost any non-DEIS school in the country.
17:1 junior class size cap. Urban Band 1 primary schools have the lowest pupil-teacher ratio in Ireland: 17:1 in junior classes (infants to 2nd), 19:1 in vertical schools, and 21:1 in senior schools. That is smaller than almost any fee-paying school in the State.
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: Ballina. 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 F26 (Ballina) was €200,000 in 2025. That is up 60.7% since 2020. CSO figures for the whole district, not the streets beside the school.
Area profile: the Pobal HP Deprivation Index rates Ballina Urban at -16.55 (Disadvantaged), where 0 is the national average. 26% of adults there hold a third-level qualification.
Contact
| Principal | Frances Breen |
|---|---|
| Phone | 09673828 |
| scoilnagceithremaol@yahoo.ie | |
| Local authority | Mayo County Council |
Other schools in Ballina
- Ardagh National School Primary school, Mayo
- Beheymore N S Primary school, Mayo
- Bunscoil Naomh Bríd Agus Pádraíg Primary school, Mayo
- Cloghans N S Primary school, Mayo
- Cooneal N.S. Primary school, Mayo
- Cullens N S Primary school, Mayo
- Garracloon N S Primary school, Mayo
- Knockanillo N S Primary school, Mayo
- Moyne College Secondary school, Mayo
- Newtownwhite Educate Together Ns Primary school, Mayo
- Quignamanger N S Primary school, Mayo
- S N Naomh Padraig Primary school, Mayo
How we know
DoE Schools GIS 2026 (CC BY 4.0) — checked 2026-08-27.