Coolmeen National School
Kilmurry McMahon, Clare
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 20 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 11 girls, 9 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 12633I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Coolmeen National School is a co‑educational Catholic primary school serving the rural community of Coolmeen since the late 19th century. The school’s ethos is built around a well‑ordered, caring and happy environment that nurtures the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural development of each pupil. A strong emphasis is placed on gender equity, respect for people and property, and the encouragement of personal responsibility, all under the guiding motto “foghlaim agus spraoi” (learning and fun). Recent development has expanded the learning environment with a purpose‑built room, a new classroom and a kitchenette, funded through local contributions and a Department of Education and Science grant. The school benefits from an EU‑funded digital initiative (2021) that supplied laptops and ICT infrastructure to bridge the digital divide for learners at risk of disadvantage. In addition to the core curriculum, the school offers a Breakfast Club and an Afterschool Service (operational since September 2024) and is actively enrolling pupils for September 2026.
History
Coolmeen National School has been central to the Coolmeen community since its foundation in 1885 and operates under the patronage of the Diocese of Killaloe. Over the years the school has grown from a single‑room establishment to a modern primary school, with recent extensions, including a purpose room, new classroom and kitchenette, made possible by local funding and a Department of Education grant. In 2021 the school received an EU grant under the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan, enabling the provision of laptops and enhanced ICT facilities for its pupils.
Applying to Coolmeen 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 Coolmeen 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 Coolmeen National School
How many pupils attend Coolmeen National School?
Coolmeen National School has 20 pupils enrolled, 11 girls and 9 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Coolmeen National School a DEIS school?
No. Coolmeen 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 Coolmeen National School?
Coolmeen National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.