Ardfinnan National School
Tipperary
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 244 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 110 girls, 134 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16077B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ardfinnan National School is a mixed primary school situated in the Commons, Clonmel, County Tipperary. The school provides a modern, child‑centred learning environment that blends traditional Irish curriculum with a strong emphasis on inclusive education and hands‑on experiences. All classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards, digital cameras, visualisers, data projectors and a range of science equipment, enabling interactive and technology‑enhanced lessons across subjects. The school boasts extensive outdoor and indoor facilities. Pupils enjoy two basketball/tennis courts, a grass area, access to the village’s full‑size pitch and a sizeable school hall. The grounds include a millennium wood, butterfly patch, stream and wildlife habitats, as well as a Sensory Garden. Dedicated provisions for children with autism include two specialised classes, a Sensory Integration room and a Snoozelan. Extra‑curricular provision covers swimming lessons for all classes, music programmes (tin whistle, violin, recorder, cello and a school orchestra), table quizzes, Literacy Lift‑Off and regular field trips that reinforce experiential learning.
History
The origins of education in the Ardfinnan area date back to 1824 with six “pay schools” serving the united parish. Rev. O’Connor founded a school in Ardfinnan in 1850 and a new building was erected on the present site in 1856. Crough National School (1844) and Gormanstown Agricultural Model School (1848) later merged with Ardfinnan NS, the latter joining in 1971 when the school became co‑educational. Major extensions were added in 1971 (four classrooms, central heating, staff room and tarmacked yard), in 1997 (four new classrooms) and in 2013 (two additional classrooms). The school celebrated the centenary of its 1910 building in 2010 and has since developed an ASD unit, Sensory Room, Sensory Garden and various environmental projects.
Applying to Ardfinnan National School
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Ardfinnan National School. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about Ardfinnan National School
How many pupils attend Ardfinnan National School?
Ardfinnan National School has 244 pupils enrolled, 110 girls and 134 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ardfinnan National School a DEIS school?
No. Ardfinnan National School is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of Ardfinnan National School?
Ardfinnan National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.