Notices:

Goodbye, good luck and farewell to our 6th class pupils Saoirse, Holly, Kate, Áine, Laura, Rian, Eoin, Emlyn, Colin, Ray and Ruadhán who graduated from primary school today with a lovely Graduation Ceremony in our school yard under the glorious sunshine
We hope you look back on all your years in Athleague NS with fond memories.  Wishing you all the best in secondary school and beyond. What a lovely group of children who will be missed greatly!
The children were presented with memorable tokens for their time in our school. So many fond memories to cherish. The day was filled with laughs and memories! It was so lovely to welcome their families to join us in the celebration! We wish you all the very best of luck in your future ahead, and remember that you will always be a part of our school family!
“You’re off to Great Places. Today is your day.
Your mountain is waiting.
So………get on your way” 

 Congratulations and Well Done to Kate Conneally!  This year’s recipient of the Fr. Leogue Memorial Cup and a truly deserving Student of the Year.  Kate has been an outstanding ambassador for our school. We are incredibly proud of all she has achieved.  Well done, Kate— a fitting end to a remarkable journey! 

Perfect Attendance! 
Congratulations to Katie, the only pupil in Athleague National School to achieve 100% attendance this year!
Ms. Hickey was delighted to present Katie with a trophy and certificate in recognition of her fantastic achievement.
Well done, Katie – a wonderful example of dedication and commitment throughout the year! 

A Special Milestone! 
Congratulations to our Junior Infants, who were presented with certificates by Ms. Hickey to celebrate the successful completion of their first year at Athleague National School.
They have had a wonderful year of learning, growing and making new friends, and we are so proud of all they have achieved. Well done, everyone and we wish you a happy summer! 

 We were honoured to celebrate Fr. Eugene McLoughlin on the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
On behalf of the pupils, staff and Board of Management of Athleague National School, Principal Avril and Chairperson Anthony were delighted to present Fr. Eugene with a token of appreciation in recognition of his lifelong dedication, service and support.
Fr. Eugene has always held a special place in the heart of our school community. During his years as Parish Priest and Chairperson of the Board of Management, he was a constant source of encouragement, guidance and wisdom. No matter what challenges arose, we knew we could rely on his support, his thoughtful advice and his genuine care for the school.
Our pupils always looked forward to his visits, and he had a wonderful way of making every child feel valued and important. Staff members have many fond memories of his kindness, friendship and the time he always took to stop, listen and chat. Even today, we are grateful that he continues to return each year to celebrate our graduation service and remain such an important part of school life.
Thank you, Fr. Eugene, for your friendship, generosity and unwavering commitment to Athleague National School over so many years. Congratulations on this remarkable milestone, and we wish you continued good health, happiness and blessings in the years ahead. 

Our Student Council members were treated to a delicious treat by Ms. Hickey today after a fantastic year of service. We discussed our productive year and all our achievements. Ms. Hickey presented each member with a certificate of achievement and a voucher for their commitment throughout the year.
Well done Holly, Macie, Maria, Ryan, Jay and Eli! 

 

 

 End of Year Awards Ceremony – Athleague National School 

As another successful school year draws to a close, we were delighted to celebrate the many achievements of our students at our End of Year Awards Ceremony. Here’s a round-up of the incredible accomplishments across our school community:

 STEPS Young Engineers Award
Well done to 3rd & 4th Class who took part in the STEPS Young Engineers Award, designing innovative projects to solve local community problems. Huge thanks to Ms. Fannon for leading this fantastic initiative.

 Blue Star Programme
5th & 6th Class have worked incredibly hard on the Blue Star Programme to help the school attain another European Flag and we were also awarded “The 5-Year Achievement Award” which is a way of showing gratitude to those schools who keep participating in the Blue Star Programme year-on-year and make it such an important part of their daily classroom life. The pupils projects explored the historical, geographical, cultural, and institutional aspects of EU member states, giving them a deeper understanding of the role of the European Union. Special thanks to Mr. Higgins for his dedication to this initiative.

 STEM Excellence – 11th Gold Award!
We are thrilled to announce that we have achieved our 11th Gold Award for STEM Excellence, awarded by Science Foundation Ireland! This recognises the outstanding work completed in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths by our pupils. Huge congratulations to all students and teachers – and sincere thanks to Mr. Higgins for his commitment in preparing and submitting our successful entry!

 Amber Flag Committee
Congratulations to our Amber Flag Committee – Áine, Meave, Kate, Michael, Oscar and Padraic – for promoting positive mental health and well-being in our school. Thank you to Ms. Kilkenny and Ms. Browne for leading this wonderful initiative.

Green Flag: Congratulations to the Green Schools Committee and thank you to Mr. Higgins and the Committee of Jack, Tomás, Thomas, Chloe, Gerard and Rian for all their hard work towards our 8th Green Flag "Global Citizenship: Marine Environment”

We were delighted to present each child with a DCU Changemaker certificate as this year Athleague National School was officially named a DCU Changemaker School. 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.
We are incredibly proud of every student for their effort, creativity and achievements throughout the year. Thank you to our dedicated teachers and staff who make these opportunities possible

 

Teddy Bears’ Picnic at the Circle of Life Park
Today, our whole school enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Circle of Life Park in the village for our annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic! The children proudly brought along their favourite teddy bears and enjoyed a fun-filled day of games, laughter, friendship, and picnic treats in the sunshine.
As a special surprise, all of the children were given a treat, which added even more smiles to an already fantastic day! 
It was lovely to see so many happy faces as our pupils and their cuddly companions spent time together outdoors, making special memories in such a beautiful community space.
A big thank you to everyone who helped make the day so enjoyable. We think the teddy bears had just as much fun as the children! 

What a fantastic Sports Day at school yesterday! Great effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship from everyone involved. So many smiles, achievements, and memorable moments. Well done everyone! 

 A Special Day at Our School! 
Today we were delighted to welcome the Roscommon GAA & LGFA Tour of the Cups to our school. The excitement was palpable as pupils proudly wore their Rossie colours and got the chance to see and hold the famous Nestor Cup along with the other Connacht Cups.
It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Roscommon football success, inspire our young players and create memories that will last for years to come.
Thanks to all those in the background who made this happen.
 Rossie pride was shining throughout the school today! Roscommon GAA Roscommon LGFA Fuerty GAA St Ciarans LGFC

SFI Curious Minds Gold Award: We are thrilled to announce that we have achieved our 11th Gold Award of STEM excellence, awarded by the Science Foundation Ireland, in recognition of all our hard work in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
We are delighted to have received this Gold Award in recognition of all the fantastic Science, Maths, Technology and Engineering work completed by our pupils during the year.
Here is some feedback on our Log of Evidence:
Congratulations to everyone at Athleague NS on your award! I was blown away by the huge amount of STEM work done in the school this year. Great team work - it’s clear that pupils worked hard together on their investigations throughout the year. Congratulations to the Engineers who were selected as finalists for the STEPs Young Engineer programme! Keep up the fantastic work and well done on your award! It's a real credit to the pupils, teachers and whole school community.
Massive congratulations to our pupils and their teachers for this fantastic achievement, sincere thanks to Mr. Higgins for his hard work and commitment in completing our submission. Well done everyone.

 

 Roscommon/Athlone PTAA Regional Essay & Art Competitions 
Congratulations to Keeva Leech and Áine Conneally who received their awards this evening at a special presentation ceremony in the Abbey Hotel.
Keeva was our school’s Essay Competition winner and was also awarded the Overall Regional Runner-Up prize for her excellent essay. Áine was our school’s Art Competition winner.
We are extremely proud of both girls and of their wonderful achievements. Well done Keeva and Áine! 

 

 Hatchery Adventures in 1st & 2nd Class! 
What an exciting few days we have had in our classroom! Billy from the HATCH a Classroom Project visited 1st & 2nd Class and brought us fertilised eggs to care for and observe. The children learned all about the life cycle of chicks and eagerly waited for the eggs to hatch. 
Since then, our classroom has turned into a mini hatchery! 
Our first chick arrived and after a classroom vote, the children chose the name Oreo . Soon after, another chick hatched and was named Brownie .
The final 2 fluffy yellow chicks have now also been named… Billy and Chippy! 
All four chicks are now happily settled into their cosy brooder box where they have warmth, food and water while they continue to grow stronger each day. 
One of the highlights for the children was getting the chance to carefully hold the chicks and see them up close. There were lots of smiles, excitement and very gentle hands in the classroom! 
The excitement, curiosity and care shown by the children throughout this project has been wonderful to see. It has been such a special hands-on learning experience for everyone involved.
We think it’s safe to say that Ms Hickey and Laura are now official chick babysitters! 
Welcome to Athleague N.S. Oreo, Brownie, Billy & Chippy! 

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Athleague National School has been awarded our fourth Amber Flag!  
This is a wonderful achievement for our school community and a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of everyone involved in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in our school.
The Amber Flag initiative, run by Pieta, recognises schools, clubs and organisations that go above and beyond to create healthy, inclusive environments that support mental health awareness and resilience. Receiving this flag for a fourth time is a clear reflection of the sustained efforts we’ve made to prioritise the emotional and psychological wellbeing of our students and staff.
A very proud day for us here at Athleague N.S! 
We extend a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to:
• Ms. Kilkenny, Ms. Browne, The Amber Flag Committee- Padraic, Oscar, Michael, Kate, Maeve and Áine who worked tirelessly throughout the year to organise events, promote wellbeing and create a culture of care and inclusion within the school.
Here’s to continuing our journey in fostering positive mental health and wellbeing for all! 

Comhghairdeas mór ó chroí do na daltaí ag ceiliúradh a gChéad Chomaoineach Naofa inniu. Maith sibh.
We're very proud of all our pupils who made their First Holy Communion today. Congratulations, you were all fantastic! 
Thanks to Fr. AliJoe, Fr. Delaney, our school choir for singing so beautifully, Laura for the fantastic artwork and displays and Teresa for preparing the Church.
Special thanks to Ms Hickey who prepared the pupils so diligently this year and all the staff and parishioners involved in preparations for this very special occasion.
A huge thank you also to Athleague NS Parents Association for organising the fabulous Communion party for the children and their families in Athleague Community Centre afterwards.
We hope you are all having a wonderful day celebrating with family!

Well done to our fantastic 5th and 6th class pupils on successfully completing this year’s Blue Star Programme! 
As part of the programme, each child was assigned a European country to research and explore. The children created wonderful projects focusing on the country’s culture, history and geography, while also learning about the European Union and the important work of its institutions.
A particular highlight was discovering the traditional cuisine of their chosen countries. To celebrate the end of the programme, the children brought in delicious dishes they had prepared themselves, showcasing flavours from across Europe. The effort, creativity and enthusiasm on display were truly impressive!  
We were also delighted to welcome Ciaran Mullooly to our school. He spoke to the children about his role as a representative in the European Parliament and gave a fascinating insight into how the EU works.
It was a hugely enjoyable and educational experience for everyone involved, and we are extremely proud of all the children for their hard work and engagement throughout the programme. 

 

 

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.