Castletownshend National School
Castletownshend, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 90 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 51 girls, 39 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13728B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Castletownshend National School is a mixed primary school situated in the picturesque coastal village of Castletownshend, West Cork, within the parish of Castlehaven. It provides education for children from early years through the end of primary level, offering a welcoming and inclusive environment set against the backdrop of Castlehaven Harbour. The school runs a full calendar of events that includes term start dates, mid‑term breaks, bank holidays and community celebrations, demonstrating a commitment to a balanced curriculum that blends academic learning with cultural and social activities. Families can keep up‑to‑date via the school’s website and its social‑media channels, and enrolment information for each academic year is made readily available online. Facilities are supported by a dedicated staff team and modern digital resources, ensuring pupils have access to contemporary learning tools. The school places a strong emphasis on community involvement, evident through welcome afternoons for new pupils and regular communication with parents.
History
Castletownshend village, located on the north side of Castlehaven Harbour, developed around a mid‑17th‑century castle built by the Townshend family. The village retains a planned layout reminiscent of a Northern English settlement, featuring notable landmarks such as two sycamore trees in the central roundabout, the historic Knockdrum stone fort on a nearby hill, and the “Three Fingers” standing stones east of the school. The school itself gained a brief moment of fame by appearing in the opening scene of the 1994 film *War of the Buttons*.
Applying to Castletownshend 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 Castletownshend 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 Castletownshend National School
How many pupils attend Castletownshend National School?
Castletownshend National School has 90 pupils enrolled, 51 girls and 39 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Castletownshend National School a DEIS school?
No. Castletownshend 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 Castletownshend National School?
Castletownshend National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.