Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn
Trá Lí, Kerry
Key facts
- Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 415 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 207 girls, 208 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- All subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19631Q the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn is a primary school situated on Bóthar Chillín, Trá Lí in County Kerry, delivering education through total immersion in the Irish language. The school’s ethos, encapsulated in the slogan “Bí Cinéalta – as Gaeilge / Bí Cinéalta‑as Béarla”, promotes bilingual competence, encouraging pupils to develop fluency in both Irish and English while preserving Irish cultural heritage. Instruction follows the Irish curriculum, with a strong emphasis on oral language, literature, and the arts, supported by a range of extracurricular activities reflected in its busy school calendar (e.g., open days, St Patrick’s celebrations, and community coffee mornings). The school operates under a robust governance framework. A “Bí Cineálta” policy, ratified by the Board of Management and effective from August 2025, underpins its inclusive, child‑centred approach. The Board also conducts annual reviews of the Child Protection Policy in line with Department of Education guidelines, ensuring a safe learning environment. Recent developments include the introduction of a new school uniform and the welcoming of a cohort of 50 infants in August 2025, signalling growth and continued community engagement. Facilities are modern and designed to support active learning, with dedicated spaces for early years, primary classrooms, and specialist areas such as a library and sports hall. The school’s digital presence provides up‑to‑date information on events, policies, and resources for parents, reinforcing transparent communication and partnership with families.
History
Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn has expanded its provision in recent years, notably adopting the “Bí Cineálta” policy in August 2025 and completing its annual Child Protection Policy review in October 2025. The school celebrated the arrival of its first 50 infants on 27 August 2025, marking a significant milestone in its development. Further historical details are not provided on the website.
Applying to Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn
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 Mhic Easmainn. 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 Mhic Easmainn
How many pupils attend Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn?
Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn has 415 pupils enrolled, 207 girls and 208 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn a DEIS school?
No. Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn 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.
Does Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn teach through Irish?
Yes. Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn teaches all subjects through Irish.