Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail
Lios Tuathail, Kerry
Key facts
- DEIS
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 136 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 88 girls, 48 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20013U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail is a co‑educational Catholic primary school delivering the curriculum through the Irish language in the heart of Listowel. The school provides a fully immersive bilingual environment, fostering creativity, concentration and strong communication skills. Research highlighted on the site notes that pupils benefit from enhanced memory, problem‑solving abilities and superior performance in both English and maths, while also developing a deeper appreciation of Irish culture and identity. The school opened in 1993 with just six children and has expanded to a roll of 141 pupils. A permanent, purpose‑built facility is currently under development, with Reddy Architecture appointed as the design team and the project now in stage 2A of construction. This new building will accommodate the growing community and provide modern learning spaces that support the school’s immersion ethos and its commitment to sustainable travel and digital inclusion. Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail places a strong emphasis on the advantages of bilingual education, citing academic research that links immersion to higher self‑esteem, better social skills and the capacity to acquire additional languages more easily. The school’s ethos encourages parental involvement and a positive, supportive atmosphere for children to become fluent Irish speakers while excelling in all areas of the national curriculum.
History
Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail was established in 1993 with six pupils. Since its founding, the school has grown steadily and now enrols 141 children.
Applying to Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail
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 Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail. 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 Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail
How many pupils attend Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail?
Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail has 136 pupils enrolled, 88 girls and 48 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail a DEIS school?
Yes. Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail 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.
Does Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail teaches all subjects through Irish.