Cullina National School
Killarney, Kerry
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 152 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 63 girls, 89 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17710C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Cullina National School is a Catholic, co‑educational primary school located in Beaufort, Killarney, County Kerry, approximately seven miles from Killarney town and set against the foothills of Carrauntuohill. The school serves children from Junior Infants through to Sixth Class and follows the curriculum prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, delivering a broad range of subjects including Gaeilge, English, Mathematics, Social, Environmental and Scientific Education, Visual Arts, Physical Education, Music, Drama, SPHE and Religion. The learning environment is supported by a dedicated team of fourteen staff members, comprising classroom teachers, special educational needs (SEN) teachers and specialists for the two special‑education classrooms. Facilities include modern classroom spaces and an astroturf pitch, which has been the focus of recent community fundraising initiatives. The school operates a structured timetable with opening hours from 9:00 am and staggered closing times for younger and older pupils, providing regular breaks to support pupil wellbeing and engagement. The ethos of Cullina National School emphasises the holistic development of each child, cognitive, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual, encouraging a living relationship with God and with others, and fostering a Christian philosophy of life throughout the school community.
History
Cullina National School was established in 1835, following the 1831 National Education Act which enabled Catholic education. A grant of £200, land and a site were provided by Kane O’Mahony of Cullina House, leading to the construction of a two‑storey building where girls were taught on the upper floor and boys on the ground floor. Early leadership included Mrs Reidy as the first Girls’ Principal, succeeded by Catherine Coghlan (1910), Mary Coghlan (1920) and Bridget Coghlan until the schools amalgamated. The boys’ side saw principals such as Mr Reidy, Peter Coghlan and his descendants, culminating in Peter Coughlan’s 44‑year tenure after the present school building was erected in 1950. Subsequent principals have included Stephen O’Shea, Nora Mai Kelliher, Bertie O Connor, Moira Cronin and the current principal, Leona Twiss.
Applying to Cullina 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 Cullina 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 Cullina National School
How many pupils attend Cullina National School?
Cullina National School has 152 pupils enrolled, 63 girls and 89 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Cullina National School a DEIS school?
No. Cullina 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 Cullina National School?
Cullina National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.