

Scoil Áine Naofa
Loch Cútra
Lough Cutra National School


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Welcome to Scoil Aine Naofa, Loch Cutra, website.
Scoil Aine Naofa is a Catholic co-educational school catering for children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
It is situated in the parish of Beagh, approximately 6km South of Gort, Co,Galway. There has been a school on this site since the 1860’s and many distinguished teachers have graced its corridors since, most notably, perhaps Michael Cusack, founding father of the GAA. Michael was appointed the first Headmaster of Lough Cutra by Lord Gough when he was merely 20 years old.
There have been many improvements to the school over the years the latest of which was the addition of an ASD unit in 2017. Mostly recently, the Department of Education and Skills has granted funding for the building of two 80sq metre classrooms with ensuite toilets and a new Special Education classroom. We're at the preplanning stage. In September 2023, we were granted planning permission for a new All Weather Pitch, which will be a wonderful addition to our school. We look forward to that.
We have a current enrolment of 91 pupils, with four mainstream teachers, two Special Education Teachers. We also have 4.5 SNAs and a secretary.
We endeavour to stimulate learning by offering a diverse range of activities both curricular and extra-curricular. Our aim is to create a friendly, inviting atmosphere with happy, well-adjusted pupils and highly- dedicated, motivated staff.
Newsflash!!
We are enrolling in Scoil Áine Naofa for our 2025-2026 infant class from October 1st.
Please contact the school if you wish to enrol your child!




A visit from Medtronic for our budding engineers!!:👩🔬👨🔬
3rd - 6th class had great fun today participating in lots of problem solving experiments, building bridges, designing a structure under certain criteria to hold 0.5kg weight, building a hospital with lego and designing a structure with marshmallows and sticks that could survive an earthquake! We had great fun and the groups watched the errors made by other groups to build on their project! In the end, bridges had wind turbines, solar panels and elements of Biodiversity!!!!
We then looked at how a surgeon would insert a stent into an artery ❤ and of course looked at the various bands of engineering.
See some great pictures below!!




Garda Hurling Tournament:
Well done to our school hurling team for reaching the final of their division in the Garda Tournament today. They were very unlucky not to pass the line but played some great hurling. Massive thanks to Adrian Diviney for training teams.




Sacrament of Confirmation
Congratulations to our 5th and 6th class pupils who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Wednesday. It was a beautiful day. Thanks to their teacher and SNA for all their preparations.




Garda Camogie Tournament:
Well done to our camogie team who participated in the first Garda Camogie Tournament in Ballindereen GAA on Thursday 20th March. They had a great day out!




5th and 6th class projects:
5th and 6th class pupils finished some fabulous project work this week making models and dioramas to represent their research about Ireland during the Medieval Times.




What we are learning about!
A sample of some of the great Gaeilge, Literacy and Art brightening up our halls:




🌳🦔Adventure to Coole Park: 🌲🌳
Infants and our ASD class made the most of the good weather with a nature walk to Coole Park today. They had great fun participating in a scavenger hunt and looking for the signs of Spring and learning about forest animals. Lots of outdoor learning in the fresh air!!




🥞Pancake Tuesday in Lough Cútra NS!🥞
There was plenty of energy (probably from all the sugar!) in the school today as our resident pancake chef Mrs Kelly made pancakes for the whole school with the trusted help of our senior classes 👨🍳👩🍳. Our spread included lemon curd, maple syrup, marshmallows, banana, lemon and butter of course! Well done to Mrs Kelly and all involved. The school never smelled so nice!!!




Soccer Competitions (Boys):
Our school boy's soccer team participated in the FAI 5 a side soccer tournament in Salthill. The may not have reached the heights that the girls did the day before but we are still very proud of the effort and commitment they displayed throughout the event.




St Brigid's Crosses:
Children in 4th class were busy celebrating St Brigid's Day by making crosses from locally sourced reeds. It was great to see their ability to work as a team! Well done