Glenstal Abbey School
Limerick
Key facts
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 203 smaller than the median Irish post-primary school (585 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects taught through Irish
- Roll number
- 64150F the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Glenstal Abbey School is a Catholic boys' secondary school in Murroe, Co. Limerick, run by a community of Benedictine monks. Enrolment is 203 students. The school is a boarding school for boys, housed within a 19th century Normanesque castle on a 500-acre estate of farmland, forest, lakes and streams. The monastery is a place of prayer, work, education and hospitality, with the monks living according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. The school choir performs at liturgies in the Abbey church. The Abbey has a guesthouse and offers retreats, and visitors are welcome at the daily services. The monastic community marks 100 years since the official beginning of monastic life in the place on December 19th 2027, with the Barrington estate entrusted to the monks in May 1927.
Applying to Glenstal Abbey 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 post-primary school dates apply broadly to Glenstal Abbey 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: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (primary schools: Thu 18 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 Glenstal Abbey School
How many pupils attend Glenstal Abbey School?
Glenstal Abbey School has 203 pupils enrolled. That makes it smaller than the median Irish post-primary school, which has 585 pupils.
Is Glenstal Abbey School a DEIS school?
No. Glenstal Abbey 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 Glenstal Abbey School?
Glenstal Abbey School has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' post-primary school.