Ballyneale National School
Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 77 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 33 girls, 44 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18085K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballyneale National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in the picturesque village of Ballyneale, nestled in the Valley of Slievenamon, County Tipperary. The school provides a holistic, Catholic‑ethos education while recognising and respecting all other faiths. Its ethos centres on creating a safe, happy and stimulating environment where each child is valued, cherished and encouraged to reach their full potential across spiritual, moral, intellectual, social and cultural dimensions. A strong partnership with parents and the wider community underpins the school’s approach, with active involvement in extracurricular activities such as swimming, gardening, GAA, soccer, athletics, spikeball, knitting, chess and school maintenance. The campus boasts state‑of‑the‑art facilities, including large, sunny, well‑equipped classrooms and a spacious outdoor play area that offers ample room for expansion. Well‑maintained grounds feature lawns, flower beds, a vegetable garden and mature trees, providing a secure setting for nature walks and maths trails. The family‑size atmosphere ensures individual attention for each pupil, fostering self‑esteem, responsibility and respect for people and property, while promoting gender equity and the use of the Irish language where possible.
History
The present school building was erected in 1958 with Mr Patrick Power as its first principal; prior to this, children were taught in the present Community Hall. Initially a two‑teacher school, a third teacher was added in 1983, followed by a major extension and renovation in 1995. A Learning Support Teacher joined in 2006, and a further three‑classroom extension was completed in 2008. A fourth classroom teacher was appointed in 2011 and a Resource Teacher in 2012. Today the school employs four mainstream class teachers, two learning‑support teachers and a Special Needs Assistant.
Applying to Ballyneale 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 Ballyneale 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 Ballyneale 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 Ballyneale National School
How many pupils attend Ballyneale National School?
Ballyneale National School has 77 pupils enrolled, 33 girls and 44 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballyneale National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballyneale 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 Ballyneale National School?
Ballyneale National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.