Croom National School
Croom, Limerick
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 169 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 69 girls, 100 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 09306W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Mary’s National School, Croom, is a co‑educational Catholic primary school that places the holistic development of each pupil at the centre of its ethos. The curriculum blends a strong foundation in religious education with a commitment to inclusivity, respecting the rights and needs of children from all faith backgrounds. Learning is delivered through a balanced programme that incorporates traditional subjects, a vibrant STEM offering and a focus on environmental stewardship, reflected in its Green School and Active School initiatives. The school benefits from modern digital resources secured through a Next Generation EU grant, including iPads, docking stations and specialised coding and robotics workshops run in partnership with industry leaders such as Dell and Analog. These tools support a range of extracurricular activities, from First LEGO League competitions to mindfulness and physical‑activity programmes, ensuring pupils develop both academic and life‑skills competencies. Enrolment is streamlined via an online pre‑registration system, and a dedicated Parents Corner provides easy access to calendars, policies and support resources.
History
The origins of education in Croom trace back to clandestine hedge schools of the 18th century, where teachers such as Sean O’Tuama and Andrias McGrath taught small groups of pupils despite penal laws. The first documented teacher appears in 1830, with Master Bennett instructing a mixed‑faith cohort in Honeypound. A purpose‑built schoolhouse existed at Barrack Cross before the Great Famine and served the community for many years. In the 1860s, Fr Hartnett, the parish priest, commissioned a central school building, completed in 1863 on land gifted by the Lyons family. The structure, modelled on contemporary English grammar schools, housed separate boys’ and girls’ sections and a teacher’s residence. Throughout the 20th century the school expanded its curriculum to include rural and elementary science, health habits and later, specialised facilities for orthopaedic hospital students.
Applying to Croom 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
View Croom National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Croom National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Croom National School
How many pupils attend Croom National School?
Croom National School has 169 pupils enrolled, 69 girls and 100 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Croom National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Croom National School is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Croom National School?
Croom National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.