Ballyragget National School
Ballyragget, Kilkenny
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 163 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 87 girls, 76 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20506U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Ballyragget National School is a co‑educational primary school serving children from Junior Infants to 6th class in the village of Ballyragget (Béal Átha Ragad), ten miles north of Kilkenny city. The school operates across two purpose‑built buildings: the Junior Building accommodates Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd classes together with two dedicated autism classes, while the Senior Building houses 3rd to 6th classes. A well‑stocked library and a range of educational aids support a broad curriculum, and the school’s comprehensive IT provision supplies tablets for use by all pupils, fostering digital literacy alongside traditional learning. The school’s ethos is summed up in its motto “Dream, Believe, Achieve Together”, reflecting a collaborative approach that involves a Board of Management, an active Parents Council and strong communication tools such as the Aladdin Connect platform. These structures aim to create a supportive community where pupils can develop academically, socially and emotionally in a safe, inclusive environment. With approximately twenty teaching and support staff, the school places particular emphasis on inclusive education, providing specialised support for autistic learners and ensuring that each child benefits from personalised attention and a range of extracurricular opportunities.
History
Ballyragget National School was established in August 2018 following the amalgamation of Scoil Naomh Bhríde (St Brigid’s GNS) and Scoil Chiaráin Naofa (Ballyragget BNS). The merger created a single, larger primary school serving the local community while retaining the heritage of both predecessor schools.
Applying to Ballyragget 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 Ballyragget 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 Ballyragget National School
How many pupils attend Ballyragget National School?
Ballyragget National School has 163 pupils enrolled, 87 girls and 76 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Ballyragget National School a DEIS school?
No. Ballyragget 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 Ballyragget National School?
Ballyragget National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.