Bishop Harty National School
Nenagh, Tipperary
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 91 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 47 girls, 44 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15560W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Bishop Harty National School is a co‑educational primary school situated just outside Nenagh in the parish of Toomevara. The school provides a broad, child‑centred curriculum that balances mainstream learning with dedicated support for pupils with special educational needs. Facilities include four spacious classrooms, a large multipurpose hall, a Learning Support room, a Resource room, a staff room, an office and several storage areas, all designed to create a supportive learning environment. The school also benefits from a well‑maintained playing field owned by the community and easy access to the neighbouring Ballymackey Soccer Club’s state‑of‑the‑art astro‑turf, encouraging a strong emphasis on physical education and outdoor activity. The school’s ethos promotes inclusive education, environmental awareness through its Green School programme, and active community involvement. A range of extracurricular activities, including a before‑ and after‑school club, complement the academic programme and foster personal development. Modern facilities, combined with a focus on both academic achievement and holistic well‑being, make Bishop Harty National School a vibrant centre for primary education in the region.
History
The school is named after Most Reverend Dr Michael Harty, Bishop of Killaloe (1967‑1994), who attended the original school from 1928 to 1934. The original building, dating from 1903, was deemed unfit in 1978, leading to the construction of a new two‑teacher school opened in 1992. In 2005 a state‑of‑the‑art building was sanctioned, and a further classroom was added in 2009 as enrolments rose from 68 to 82 pupils. The school’s playing field was purchased by the community in 1959 and remains a valued local amenity.
Applying to Bishop Harty 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 Bishop Harty 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 Bishop Harty National School
How many pupils attend Bishop Harty National School?
Bishop Harty National School has 91 pupils enrolled, 47 girls and 44 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Bishop Harty National School a DEIS school?
No. Bishop Harty 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 Bishop Harty National School?
Bishop Harty National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.