Firies Mixed National School
Firies Village, Kerry
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 250 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 102 girls, 148 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15945T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Firies National School is a mixed Catholic primary school situated in the village of Firies, County Kerry. Set on a 2.57‑acre site off the N591, the school benefits from extensive outdoor play areas and a dedicated school garden where pupils explore native woodland species and grow vegetables. The teaching team comprises 19 teachers supported by eight special‑needs assistants, providing a low‑student‑to‑staff ratio that underpins a broad and balanced curriculum across all core subjects and a wide range of extra‑curricular programmes, including football, basketball, tag rugby, gymnastics, aquatics, mountaineering, set dancing, hurling, cycling, Olympic handball, quizzes and music/choir. The school embraces a strong ethos of environmental stewardship and health promotion, holding both the Green School and Health‑Promoting School designations. It has been recognised with a GAA 5‑Star Flag (2019), an Active School Flag (2021), Awards of Excellence in Science and Maths, a STEM Cluster, an Art and Animation Cluster, and the Digital Schools Award for Excellence (2019). Participation in the Department of Education’s Next Generation EU‑funded project has delivered high‑speed broadband, enhancing digital learning opportunities. Parental involvement is central to school life, with an active Parents’ Association and a variety of after‑school clubs such as Brickx, Taekwondo, football, hurling and Irish dancing, fostering a vibrant, community‑focused environment for the 273 enrolled pupils.
History
Firies National School opened in 1991 on its current 2.57‑acre rural site in Firies, midway between Killarney, Tralee, Castleisland and Killorglin. Since its inception the school has grown to a 19‑teacher institution with a strong emphasis on both academic and extracurricular excellence. Notable milestones include achieving the GAA 5‑Star Flag in 2019, receiving the first Active School Flag in 2021, being awarded the Digital Schools Flag for Excellence in 2019, and securing the ‘Digital Schools Award for Excellence’ as part of the county’s early adopters. In late 2021 the school was selected for a Department of Education project funded by the EU’s Next Generation EU programme, which provided high‑speed broadband connectivity.
Applying to Firies Mixed 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 Firies Mixed 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 Firies Mixed 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 Firies Mixed National School
How many pupils attend Firies Mixed National School?
Firies Mixed National School has 250 pupils enrolled, 102 girls and 148 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Firies Mixed National School a DEIS school?
No. Firies Mixed 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 Firies Mixed National School?
Firies Mixed National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.