Athea National School
Limerick
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 171 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 65 girls, 106 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15685T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Athea National School is a Catholic primary school in County Limerick that aims to provide a caring, happy and secure learning environment for the children of its community. The school’s ethos stresses that every child is valued, encouraged and respected for their uniqueness, and it seeks to facilitate each pupil’s full potential within a positive and supportive atmosphere. A broad and balanced curriculum is offered, with opportunities for participation in national competitions such as Discovery Primary Science and Maths, the BT Young Scientist Competition, the Junior Entrepreneur Programme, Doodle4Google and the Green Flag environmental scheme. The school has grown considerably in recent years and now employs 13 teachers and 11 Special Needs Assistants, making it one of the largest primary schools in West Limerick. It is the only school in the area to provide two dedicated special classes for children with autism, an Early Intervention Class and a preschool, reflecting a strong commitment to inclusive education. With a current enrolment of around 170 pupils, the school also offers extracurricular activities such as a laboratory programme, yoga sessions and various community‑led projects, further enriching the pupil experience.
History
The school celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022, indicating a century of service to the Athea community. Specific details of its founding are not provided on the website.
Applying to Athea 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Athea 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 Athea National School
How many pupils attend Athea National School?
Athea National School has 171 pupils enrolled, 65 girls and 106 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Athea National School a DEIS school?
No. Athea 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 Athea National School?
Athea National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.