Curranes National School
Curranes, Kerry
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 86 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 47 girls, 39 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 09938N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Curranes National School is a mainstream, co‑educational primary school situated in a rural setting just five minutes from Castleisland, County Kerry. The school’s ethos centres on creating a happy and healthy environment where pupils, families and the Board of Management work in harmony. Its curriculum is designed to develop academic achievement alongside emotional, social and moral growth, fostering Christian values, self‑esteem, life‑skills and a sense of community responsibility. The campus offers bright, cheerful classrooms, a dedicated computer room and a purpose‑built hall. Pupils benefit from a secure indoor play area and well‑maintained outdoor play spaces, including recent extensions completed in 2022 that added modern teaching facilities. In addition to the primary programme, the school provides a HSE‑registered “Happy Days” preschool (opened 2009) and an after‑school service that delivers ECCE and CCS childcare funding programmes, supporting families throughout the day.
History
The original Curranes National School (Scoil na gCoireán / gCorrán) operated from 1869 to 1965 in a stone‑built two‑classroom building across from the present site. Scoil Íde opened in December 1965 as a two‑room, two‑teacher school. Expansion continued: a third teacher was added in 1984, a temporary classroom created from a cloakroom, and a prefabricated classroom installed in 1988 after negotiations with the Department of Education. A major extension and refurbishment took place in 2004‑2005. In September 2019 the school became a four‑teacher school with 85 pupils; enrolment rose to 87 by December 2021. Work on a new extension began in August 2021, with the additional classroom becoming operational in September 2022. The “Happy Days” preschool was launched in 2009.
Applying to Curranes 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 Curranes 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 Curranes National School
How many pupils attend Curranes National School?
Curranes National School has 86 pupils enrolled, 47 girls and 39 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Curranes National School a DEIS school?
No. Curranes 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 Curranes National School?
Curranes National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.