Ballyfacey National School
Glenmore, Kilkenny
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 54 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 29 girls, 25 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18257N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballyfacey National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in the parish of Glenmore, in the south‑east corner of County Kilkenny. Operating under the Roman Catholic patronage of the Diocese of Ossory, the school welcomes children from Ballyfacey and the surrounding rural community. The ethos combines a strong commitment to academic development with a nurturing environment that supports the spiritual, social and emotional growth of each pupil. A full‑time Special Education Teacher (SET) is on site, ensuring that learners with additional needs receive tailored support alongside the mainstream curriculum. The school’s facilities have developed progressively since the original building opened in 1958. A 2006 extension added a further classroom and a versatile multi‑purpose room that functions as a staffroom, resource centre and learning‑support space. Further expansion under the Additional Accommodation Scheme, completed before the 2021‑22 academic year, provided an extra mainstream classroom, a dedicated support‑teacher room, re‑configured teaching spaces and upgraded toilet facilities. These developments enable the school to maintain three mainstream classrooms, each staffed by a permanent teacher, and to deliver a broad range of learning experiences, including religious education programmes such as the “Grow in Love” series.
History
The first school serving the catchment area was established in 1868. The current premises were opened on the site in 1958 as a two‑classroom building. An extension opened on 8 September 2006, adding a classroom and a multi‑purpose room for staff and learning support. In the 2014/2015 academic year the school expanded to three mainstream classrooms, a structure that has been retained. A successful application for additional accommodation in 2018‑19 led to further development, and prior to the 2021‑22 school year a new mainstream classroom, a support‑teacher room, the amalgamation of two smaller rooms, and additional toilet facilities were added.
Applying to Ballyfacey 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
View Ballyfacey National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Ballyfacey National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Ballyfacey National School
How many pupils attend Ballyfacey National School?
Ballyfacey National School has 54 pupils enrolled, 29 girls and 25 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballyfacey National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballyfacey 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 Ballyfacey National School?
Ballyfacey National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.