Catherine Mc Auley Special School
Limerick
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 278 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 102 girls, 176 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18692I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Catherine McAuley School is a specialist post‑primary institution dedicated to pupils with learning difficulties, situated in a tranquil green‑belt setting on the Westbourne Convent grounds in Limerick city. The school serves a wide catchment that includes County Limerick, Tipperary and Clare, and maintains a low pupil‑to‑teacher ratio of 11 : 1, allowing for personalised support and close monitoring of progress. A caring, friendly and inclusive atmosphere is fostered throughout the campus, encouraging each learner to participate fully in academic, social and personal development. The curriculum is broad‑based and balanced, combining core literacy and numeracy with a diverse range of vocational subjects such as horticulture, woodwork, home economics, hair care and information technology. Creative and physical education are also integral, with provision for religious education, art, drama, physical education and social education. Facilities include a purpose‑built classroom block, a dedicated vocational unit and a modern PE hall, all designed to enrich learning experiences and celebrate individual achievement.
History
Catherine McAuley School was founded in 1961 by the Mercy Sisters in response to the need for specialised education for students struggling in mainstream settings. The inaugural class of twelve pupils met in a single room at St John’s Primary School before relocating to a classroom block at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Rosbrien. By the 1970s the school catered for both primary and secondary ages, prompting the construction of a purpose‑built campus on the Westbourne Convent grounds, which opened in 1979. Enrollment grew to over two hundred students by the mid‑1980s. Sr Killian Bugler served as the first principal, succeeded by subsequent leaders who expanded the curriculum to include a vocational unit and PE hall in the early 2000s.
Applying to Catherine Mc Auley Special 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 Catherine Mc Auley Special 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 Catherine Mc Auley Special School
How many pupils attend Catherine Mc Auley Special School?
Catherine Mc Auley Special School has 278 pupils enrolled, 102 girls and 176 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Catherine Mc Auley Special School a DEIS school?
No. Catherine Mc Auley Special 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 Catherine Mc Auley Special School?
Catherine Mc Auley Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.