Coolfancy National School
TINAHELY, Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 68 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 36 girls, 32 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18118W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Coolfancy National School, officially St Mary’s National School, serves the rural community of Coolfancy, Tinahely, Arklow in County Wicklow. As a co‑educational primary school it provides a broad, child‑centred curriculum that blends the Irish national syllabus with a strong emphasis on Catholic values, community participation and the development of personal and social skills. The school’s timetable incorporates regular religious celebrations such as First Holy Communion and Confirmation, reflecting its commitment to spiritual growth alongside academic achievement. The school offers places for Junior Infants and maintains a dedicated ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) class, demonstrating an inclusive approach that supports children with diverse learning needs. Facilities include dedicated classroom spaces for each class level, a school calendar that communicates both planned and unplanned closures, and a range of extracurricular activities highlighted in the News and Parents Association sections. Resources such as the “Spelling for Me” accelerated‑reader programme further enrich literacy development, while the active Parents Association fosters strong home‑school links and community involvement.
Applying to Coolfancy 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Coolfancy 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 Coolfancy National School
How many pupils attend Coolfancy National School?
Coolfancy National School has 68 pupils enrolled, 36 girls and 32 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Coolfancy National School a DEIS school?
No. Coolfancy 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 Coolfancy National School?
Coolfancy National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.