C.B.S. Primary Ennis
Ennis, Clare
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 643 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 306 girls, 337 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16677C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
C.B.S. Primary Ennis is a Catholic primary school situated on New Road, Ennis, County Clare. Under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust and the patronage of the Bishop of Killaloe, the school’s ethos is built around the holistic development of each pupil – nurturing moral, spiritual, physical, academic, aesthetic and cultural dimensions. The school strives to create an atmosphere of mutual respect where pupils feel safe, accepted and encouraged to explore their individuality, while also celebrating diversity and pluralism within the community. The learning environment is supported by a range of facilities that have developed over many decades. A purpose‑built junior school building, a school hall, and a playing pitch (originally a field purchased in the early 1960s) provide spaces for classroom instruction, physical education and extracurricular activities. Recent extensions and ongoing improvements aim to equip the school with modern resources, and the curriculum is enriched by initiatives such as STEAM (Numicon), Literacy Lift‑Off, Green Schools, and the Aistear framework, reflecting a commitment to innovative and environmentally aware education.
History
The Christian Brothers arrived in Ennis in 1827 at the Bishop’s request, establishing the first school in a modest building on Chapel Lane. In 1830 a two‑storey school measuring 60 ft by 30 ft was erected, serving both primary and secondary pupils until 1935 when the secondary institution, Rice College, was built. During the 1840s girls attended classes on the upper floor. The 1950s saw extensions to the original building, and in the early 1960s a field was purchased – now the site of the playing pitch, junior school building, yard and car‑parking. The junior school building itself was constructed in the 1960s, with further extensions added in the 1980s, and a major development phase ran from 1995 to 1998. Continuous improvements are pursued to provide pupils with the best possible opportunities.
Applying to C.B.S. Primary Ennis
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 C.B.S. Primary Ennis. 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 C.B.S. Primary Ennis
How many pupils attend C.B.S. Primary Ennis?
C.B.S. Primary Ennis has 643 pupils enrolled, 306 girls and 337 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is C.B.S. Primary Ennis a DEIS school?
No. C.B.S. Primary Ennis 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 C.B.S. Primary Ennis?
C.B.S. Primary Ennis has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.