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GRANDPARENTS DAY 2026
Today was a very special day. It was Grandparents Day, which is one of the most exciting events during our school calendar.
We started our day with mass in the church followed by refreshments in Athleague Community Centre. We were so blessed that so many grandparents could be with us today for this celebration. We want to honour and celebrate you all for the important role you play in the life of the community, but most significantly in the lives of our children.
You are very important to them, as we know they are to you. For some grandparents it was their first time to attend a school event, for others they make the daily visit to our school to collect their grandchild or grandchildren and for others today brought back memories of your childhood attending Athleague National School.
We also remembered the grandparents who could not be with us; those who could not travel, those who live far away, those who are sick, and sadly, those who have died and are now residing with God in heaven.
They were all in our thoughts today. We remembered all the grandparents in our mass today. 
Thank you to our Parent’s Association for their organisation of the refreshments in the hall afterwards and for providing goodie bags for all the kids. Thank you to Brendan Murray for setting up the Community Centre. Thank you to all the parents who helped with serving teas and coffees and tidying up afterwards, it is much appreciated.
“Ears that truly listen,
Arms that love to hold,
Love that's never ending,
A heart that's made of gold" 

We were absolutely delighted to take part in the very first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Athleague Village 
It was a fantastic experience from start to finish, and we were so proud to be part of such a special community occasion. Despite the rain, the atmosphere was brilliant, and it was wonderful to see everyone come together for such a memorable day. A big thank you to all the children and parents who came along, we really appreciate your support!
We were especially thrilled to lead the parade and to finish the day by winning, a great achievement for all involved.
A huge thank you to the fantastic committee for organising such a well-run event, and to our dedicated staff for their time and effort.
Days like this truly show the strength of our community. We’re already looking forward to next year!  We Are Athleague Athleague Tidy Towns

We had great fun celebrating Lá Glas in school today! 
The day started with a parade around the playground to show off all the fantastic green outfits, followed by a céilí where everyone enjoyed dancing Shoe the Donkey and The Stack of Barley.
Mile buíochas to everyone who dressed up - a great effort all around!

 

 

Mother’s Day Coffee Morning – Thank You! 
A big thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for our Mother’s Day Coffee Morning. It was a lovely way to celebrate the wonderful Mammy’s, grannies and mother figures in our school community
We hope everyone enjoyed popping in for a takeaway cup of tea or coffee along with a cereal bar, sweet treat or some fruit to start the morning off the right way. It was great to see so many familiar faces despite the building works!
Thank you for taking the time to join us – your presence truly meant the world to us. Thank you to our student council for helping us set up this morning. Wishing all the amazing mothers and mother figures in our community a very happy Mother’s Day this weekend. .

 

 

 

Congratulations to our 6th Class pupils who received the Sacrament of Confirmation today in Fuerty Church. Comhghairdeas   Buíochas mór le Mr. Higgins as a chuid oibre ar fad

 

Today, 5th and 6th Class had a very special visit from Bridie Regan and Bridie Cormican from Athleague Active Age. The children thoroughly enjoyed listening to their fascinating stories about what life was like growing up almost 80 years ago, just after the end of World War II.
Bridie and Bridie shared wonderful memories of their childhood and school days. They spoke about going to school when there were no cars in the area, except for the priest, doctor and teacher, and how children would sometimes bring turf to school for the fire. Homes were heated by an open fire, there were no indoor toilets, and when electricity finally arrived it changed everything.
School life was very important to them. They loved attending school, especially Irish classes in the evenings and sewing classes. After school, there were always chores to be done at home, but they said they were never bored and always happy.
Growing up on farms meant there was always plenty of food, with families growing their own vegetables. They explained how empty cotton flour bags were sewn together to make bedsheets, with the best sheets kept for visitors! The class also learned how people churned their own butter and about the travelling shop, where goods were often exchanged through a barter system.
Evenings were spent together as a family. They spoke about saying the rosary every night, and about the rambling houses, where neighbours gathered to play cards and tell stories. For entertainment they enjoyed board games like chess, Ludo and Snakes and Ladders.
Some lovely traditions were shared too — polishing all the shoes on Sunday for Mass, having chicken for Sunday dinner, and receiving a special orange from the priest after Communion. Birthdays were celebrated with a treat called “railway cake.” Summers were often spent working in the bog, helping to save turf.
The children were fascinated to learn about “the last,” a special tool used for mending shoes, and they were amazed to hear that Bridie Regan’s mother lived to the incredible age of 108!
Both Bridie Regan and Bridie Cormican later trained as nurses, though they had to leave their jobs when they married because of the marriage bar that existed at the time. They have also been friends for over 50 years, which is truly wonderful.
A huge thank you to Bridie Regan and Bridie Cormican for taking the time to visit us and share such valuable memories. The class learned so much about life in the past and really enjoyed hearing your stories. 

Engineering week 2026 was a huge success in Athleague NS.   
All the children had great fun learning about different types of engineering. This year's theme was sky scrapers and unique buildings.
Infants learned all about the Golden Gate Bridge.
What makes bridges strong and sturdy. The children created many different types of buildings using different construction materials.
1st and 2nd class explored the challenge of tower building.
The children worked in teams to see who could build the tallest tower while using a variety of different materials.
They experimented with different designs, tested their ideas, and discovered which materials made their towers stronger and more stable.
There was lots of teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity on display some even building towers and home and bringing them in!
3rd and 4th class put their engineering and history skills to the test by designing and building Motte and Bailey castles.
Using a variety of materials, we explored how to create strong and defensive structures.
5th and 6th class were tasked with building a tower out of paper, manipulating the paper in various ways in order to build a strong tower. The children learned about the engineering that is required to build the biggest sky scrapers in the world such as the Burj Khalifa.
The children had an enjoyable week and they learned so much about engineering and construction this week. Well done all.

 

 Celebrating World Book Day in Our School! 
What an incredible day we had celebrating World Book Day in our school! The effort that went into costumes, storytelling and sharing favourite books was simply amazing. We are so proud of all our pupils who embraced the spirit of reading and brought their favourite characters to life — the creativity on display was fantastic! 
A big well done also to our wonderful staff who fully joined in the fun and dressed up too. It was lovely to see the whole school community getting involved and showing that a love of reading is for everyone! 
Days like today remind us of the magic that books bring to our lives — sparking imagination, creativity and joy. Keep turning those pages! 

 

 Sacrament of Reconciliation 
2nd class pupils received the Sacrament of Reconciliation(First Confession) in a beautiful ceremony with Fr. Alijoe held in the church this evening.
Many thanks to Fr. Alijoe for such a wonderful celebration.
Sincere thanks to Ms. Hickey for preparing the children so well for their Sacrament and to Laura for the beautiful Art displays for the church.
Well done Fiadh, Eloise, Katie, James F., James C., Tommy, Aoibhín, Ryan, Daniel, Maria, Emily, Anna, Tomás, Ruth, Ellen and Oscar we are so proud of you all.

 

 Athleague National School awarded DCU Changemaker Award! 
We are delighted to announce that Athleague National School has been officially named a DCU Changemaker School, receiving this prestigious national recognition on 25th February at Dublin City University’s St Patrick’s Campus. This honour is held by only 53 schools across Ireland and recognises excellence in school culture, along with a strong commitment to empathy, creativity, leadership, and teamwork among pupils.
Athleague NS earned this recognition after a thorough assessment by DCU, who praised our welcoming and innovative school culture. This award reflects our commitment to helping pupils grow as confident, responsible, and proactive learners.
The school is currently expanding its facilities, including a new purpose-built Special Class, opening in September 2026, which will further support every child to reach their full potential.
As part of the DCU Changemaker Schools Network, Athleague NS will collaborate with schools nationwide, engage in research, and continue enhancing teaching and learning practices with support from DCU.
A proud milestone for our school and wider community – celebrating a progressive, inclusive, and forward-thinking centre of learning! 
#DCUChangemaker #AthleagueNS #InclusiveEducation #ProudMoment

Last week we held our annual WellBeing Week in our school. The children engaged in mindfulness colouring, meditation, yoga and village walks.
All classes created gratitude poems, along with creating their our own personal shields of their achievements, skills and talents.
We celebrated the end of wellbeing week with a whole school pyjama day.
Thank you to our Amber Flag committee for all their help. 

Tuesday 10th of February was Safer Internet Day & the theme for this year is, "Al Aware: Safe, Smart, and in Control" Infants listened to the story of Dolly & the internet, where they learned all about the internet being 'a place' to visit & to learn but also to be mindful about how long we spend there.
1st & 2nd class talked about staying safe online, being kind and respectful, and thinking before we click or share. The children enjoyed the activities and showed great understanding of how to use the internet safely and responsibly.
3rd and 4th class learned all about how to stay safe online and who to tell if they are worried about something they saw online.
5th and 6th class learned all about the benefits and dangers of Al and Generative Al. #SaferInternetDay

 

 

We had two teams representing Athleague NS at the Roscommon Credit Union Quiz in Fourmilehouse on Sunday 8th of February, They did us very proud 

 

Well done to all the children who participated in the recent colouring competition organised by the National Association of Regional Game Councils.
There were three winners at club level:
• Up to and including 1st Class: Charlie Connaughton
• 2nd, 3rd and 4th Class: Kate Rogerson
• 5th and 6th Class: Amy Jane Rafter Treacy
The two pupils selected to represent the club at county level were Charlie Connaughton and Amy Jane Rafter Treacy.
The prize-giving ceremony was held today in the school. Prizes were presented by Damien Macklin, Michael Lynch and Michéal Melia from Tremane Gun Club.
Special thanks to the Roscommon Regional Game Club for the presentation of a biodiversity kit to the school, which was presented to members of our Student Council. The equipment includes insect hotels, butterfly houses, a wild bird feeding station, outdoor chalk boards and a set of outdoor wildlife signs.

 

 Parents’ Association Table Quiz 
The Parents’ Association are hosting a Table Quiz in the Bridge House on Friday, 6th February at 8.00 p.m., and it promises to be a great night out!
 Tables of four
 €10 per person
 Raffle prizes on the night
This event is being held to raise much-needed funds to support the work and activities of our school, and it’s also a great opportunity to come together for a social evening. All are welcome to come along and enjoy the night.
We would love to see as many people as possible there to support the fantastic work of the Parents’ Association. It’s sure to be a fun and enjoyable night — hope to see you there!  We Are Athleague Athleague Community Centre Clg Athleague/Tremane Hurling Club Athleague Camogie Club Athleague Hurling Club Athleague Tidy Towns

 

 Remembrance Prayer Service 
As today marks the 10th anniversary of the untimely passing of our much-loved priest and dear friend, Fr. Leogue, our school community came together yesterday to remember him with great fondness and gratitude.
Fr. Leogue was an integral part of our school community and is remembered with deep affection, respect, and appreciation for all he gave to our school. To honour his memory, a Remembrance Prayer Service was held in the church, facilitated by our staff and attended by all pupils and staff.
Through prayer and reflection, we gave thanks for Fr. Leogue’s life and the lasting legacy he left within our school. It was a very special and meaningful time for our community as we remembered someone who continues to hold a cherished place in our hearts 

 

Admissions Now Open – September 2026 
Athleague National School is now accepting applications for September 2026 
We warmly invite parents and guardians to attend our

Open Day:
 Open Day – Athleague National School
 Wednesday 14th January 2026
 3:00 p.m.
Come along with your child to:
 Explore our facilities
 Meet our dedicated and caring staff
 Learn more about the opportunities available at Athleague N.S.
To apply, please email the school to request an admissions form for your child.
 Athleague, Co. Roscommon (F42 VF95)
 090 6663420
 www.athleaguenationalschool.ie
We look forward to welcoming new families to our school community 

 

On behalf of the Board of Management and Staff of Athleague National School, we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.
We would like to thank each and every one of you for your cooperation and relentless support throughout this school term. It has been a real team effort in our school community. “Ní neart go cur le chéile”.
Nollaig shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh 

Admissions Now Open – September 2026 
Athleague National School is now accepting applications for September 2026 
We warmly invite parents and guardians to attend our

 

Open Day:
 Open Day – Athleague National School
 Wednesday 14th January 2026
 3:00 p.m.
Come along with your child to:
 Explore our facilities
 Meet our dedicated and caring staff
 Learn more about the opportunities available at Athleague N.S.
To apply, please email the school to request an admissions form for your child.
 Athleague, Co. Roscommon (F42 VF95)
 090 6663420
 www.athleaguenationalschool.ie
We look forward to welcoming new families to our school community 

 

 

 

A little rain didn’t dampen the excitement as our 1st and 2nd class pupils took a walk through the village to post their letters to Santa today. A lovely tradition and great enthusiasm from all well done everyone!

3rd to 6th class had a fantastic day out at The Gaiety theatre to see Beauty and The Beast. It was a brilliant show and an incredible experience travelling up to Dublin and experiencing the hustle and bustle of the city. What a great lead up to the Christmas holidays 

 Thank You! 
A huge thank-you to everyone who came along to our Christmas Craft Fair & Bake Sale today!
Your support made the event a hugely successful one and we are so grateful for the kindness, generosity and community spirit shown by all who took part.
A special thank you to all the parents for their incredible baking — the treats were absolutely amazing!
 And a big thank you to Athleague Community Centre for the use of the facility; we truly appreciate your support.
All proceeds go directly to Athleague National School.
Wishing you all a happy and safe Christmas!

 

Our Junior Infants to 2nd Class pupils had a very enjoyable trip to the Dean Crowe Theatre today to see “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” presented by The Talisman Theatre Company. The children thoroughly enjoyed the performance and had great fun travelling with their friends on the bus. It was a wonderful and exciting way to begin our Christmas festivities 

 Join Us at Our Christmas Craft Fair & Bake Sale! 
We’re excited to welcome everyone to the Athleague Community Centre on Friday, 12th December 2025, from 12:30–2:30 p.m.
Our pupils and staff are busy creating beautiful crafts and tasty treats — perfect for getting into the festive spirit! 
All proceeds support Athleague National School, so your generosity makes a big difference.
We’d love to see you there! 

????➡️❌ Anything BUT a School Bag Day at Athleague N.S.!
Our pupils and staff got creative today—arriving with everything except a school bag! From baskets to buckets, trolleys to toy carts, clothes horses to toolboxes we saw it all. ????????
A huge well done to everyone for the fantastic effort and imagination! 

 

We were delighted to welcome Nicola and Angela from the RSA to our school  for a fantastic road-safety workshop.
Our pupils learned important skills about staying safe on the roads in a fun, engaging way.
A huge thank you to Nicola and Angela for their time and expertise — we truly appreciate it! 
#RoadSafety #RSA #PrimaryEducation #CommunityLearning

 

Science Week in Athleague N.S. 
All children this week completed many experiments, including chemical reactions, floating and sinking, magnetism, electricity and forces.
There also was a whole school challenge whereby children were tasked to build a device that could float on water and also hold a heavy weight.
Today we got to see what the children created. Well done to all the children who did a brilliant job. We have many future scientists in our school.

We have been partaking in the Team Hope Shoebox
Appeal for years and again we were very happy with the response we received again this year.
We are well aware of the time and cost involved in putting a box together.
This appeal really helps to make children aware of others who have very little. To think that the items they donate are given directly into the hands of those children is heartwarming.
Thanks to 6th class pupils and Student Council who helped us to fill the car this morning. To anyone who helped in any way thank you once again. 

Thank you to everyone who made our Scholastic Bookfair such a success! We are grateful to everyone who popped into the Bookfair and bought books over the past week. Thank You!!

 

 

Exciting times ahead for Athleague National School as work begins on the new two million euro school extension.
Pictured at the sod-turning ceremony are Jelli Monelli (Architect with Coughlan Associates), Allen Kenny (Allen Kenny Construction Ltd.), Anthony Flaherty (Chairperson of the Board of Management), Avril Hickey (Principal) and Adrian Sheedy (Project Engineer Coughlan Associates)

 

 

Good luck, Ms. Hickey! 
We’re sending our very best wishes to our amazing principal, Ms. Hickey, as she takes on the New York Marathon on Sunday!  Your dedication and determination inspire all of us every day! 
To cheer her on, 1st & 2nd class created a special book filled with motivational quotes and heartfelt messages to send her on her way. 
We know you’ll do incredible, Ms. Hickey the whole school is behind you every step of the way!  

 

Eveyone had a spooktacular day yesterday filled with fun, creativity, and amazing costumes!
A big thank you to everyone who joined in the Halloween spirit, we loved seeing all the smiles and a few spooky faces too

 

 

 National Day of Prayer, we celebrated National Day of Prayer in our classroom. The children took time to say prayers together and remember all those who have passed. It was a thoughtful and peaceful time of reflection for everyone.

 

We celebrated World Mental Health Day  with a focus on mindfulness and positivity! 
The children enjoyed mindful meditation, talked about ways to manage worries, and shared what helps them focus on the good things in life. They also created lovely gratitude jars, listened to My Monster & Me, and reflected on the importance of kindness, gratitude, and taking care of our minds through our Weaving Wellbeing lessons. 

 

Space Week We had a very busy week in school learning about about space for Space Week.

Infant children created a rockets, learned Space stories.
1st and 2nd learned all about Astronauts, satellites and rockets.
3rd and 4th learned about the Sun and planets of our solar system.
Finally 5th and 6th class learned about living in space and what it will take to live on the Moon and Mars, they also learned about the vastness of our universe. They also did some planet art work.
Well done to all the children who worked so hard this week during Space Week. They learning so much about space in fun and exiting ways.

As Sunday 5th of October is World Teacher day  we celebrated our wonderful teachers in Athleague N.S.
We thanked them for their hard work and dedication in their roles of educating the children in our school-we are lucky to have you all.
The Student Council and Ms. Hickey made a presentation to each teacher on behalf of all the pupils in the school. “Ag obair as láimhe a céile” #worldteachersday

 

 Signs of Autumn Hunt! 
Our 1st and 2nd Class had a lovely walk around the village e last week  keeping their eyes peeled for all the signs of Autumn. From colourful leaves to conkers and berries, the children spotted so many changes in nature. 

SNA APPRECIATION DAY 
Thursday Sept 25th  we celebrated our three wonderful SNA’s Laura, Edel and Mary. We thanked them for the fabulous work that they do in supporting and assisting the pupils in our school in the most unassuming way. The Student Council made a presentation to them on behalf of the pupils and teachers to thank them for their incredible work !

 

Ecologist Michael Bell brought the children from 3rd to 6th class on a nature walk along by the River Suck. The children took part in pond dipping to identify insects in the river. The children completed in class work based on what they had learned during the nature walk.

Rugby training commenced  for 3rd-6th class with Connacht Regional Development Officer Seren Griffiths 

Fun in the Sun today at break! 

 

Hurling training commenced last Monday for 6 weeks for pupils in 3rd-6th class, boys and girls. The sessions will be facilitated by Hurling Coach Michael Hussey.

 

The children of 5th Class are taking part in The Roscommon Sports Partnership Cycle Right initiative.
They have been busy learning all about bike safety and control and have practiced how to navigate the roads safely by using the correct procedures and how to maintain a bike correctly. This course will culminate with the children going on a cycle in our local area where they will implement all they have been taught.  

 

 Pupil Spotlight! 
A huge congratulations to our 3rd class pupil Jack Hynes, who is featured in this month’s edition of Teagasc’s Today’s Farm magazine! 
Jack appears alongside his cousin Ellen, his Grandad and Granny Hynes, and his Auntie Olivia in the special Women in Agriculture feature – a fantastic celebration of farming life and the important role women play in agriculture. 
We are very proud of Jack and his family for representing both farming and our school community so well. 

 

Well done to 3rd and 4th Class who took part in a Tag Rugby Blitz hosted by Creggs Rfc today. A really enjoyable day was had by all and well done to all children for taking part

 

Our best ideas come from our students, from "wet day" activities to draughts and chess clubs! This years student council has been set up and they are busy thinking of new ideas that will benefit our girls and boys and our school. Best of luck to our new student council in the year ahead   

 

 

We have set up our Buddy System again for the new school year. This programme has worked exceptionally well over the past number of years & we look forward to another successful year.
Each child in Junior & Senior Infants have been paired with a child in either 5th or 6th Class.
This programme helps to promote friendship, independence, can foster a greater sense of belonging & and a more inclusive school community. We hope each child will form a long lasting relationship with their new buddy 

 

 

Congratulations to our new Junior Infants who completed their first day of primary school today. We are all very excited for the year ahead 

 

 

Looking forward to welcoming all of our pupils back to Athleague NS in the coming days. We are especially excited to welcome our new Junior Infant pupils on Wednesday morning  Enjoy the last few days of the holidays and we look forward to making many memories together in the new school year  #athleaguens #