Coolard Mixed National School
Listowel, Kerry
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 82 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 45 girls, 37 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 12587E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Coolard Mixed National School is a co‑educational primary school located in the parish of Ballydonoghue, approximately 4 km from Lisselton Cross and 5 km from Listowel. The school serves children from infancy through the upper primary years, offering a full‑day timetable that includes a morning session, a lunch break, and staggered finish times for infants (2 pm) and older pupils (3 pm). Its curriculum is delivered in line with the New Primary Curriculum Framework, with a strong emphasis on holistic development – academic, spiritual, moral and physical – and the nurturing of the four “Changemaker” pillars: empathy, teamwork, creativity and leadership. The school’s ethos is centred on providing the highest quality education that enables every child to enjoy a happy, fulfilling childhood while preparing them for further education and lifelong learning. Pupils are encouraged to develop as caring, responsible members of society, to appreciate cultural differences, and to engage actively with their local community and the natural environment. Facilities support a balanced programme of classroom learning, outdoor play, and extracurricular activities, including before‑ and after‑school clubs and a focus on wellbeing.
History
Coolard Mixed National School has been providing education for over 170 years, making it a long‑standing institution in the Ballydonoghue area. The school’s historic roots reflect a continuous commitment to serving the local community and preserving Irish educational traditions while evolving to meet contemporary educational standards.
Applying to Coolard Mixed 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 Coolard Mixed 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 Coolard Mixed National School
How many pupils attend Coolard Mixed National School?
Coolard Mixed National School has 82 pupils enrolled, 45 girls and 37 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Coolard Mixed National School a DEIS school?
No. Coolard Mixed 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 Coolard Mixed National School?
Coolard Mixed National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.