Kilgariffe National School
Clonakilty, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 45 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 17 girls, 28 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 10499U the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Kilgariffe National School is a small, three‑teacher, co‑educational primary school situated on Old Timoleague Road in the town of Clonakilty, West Cork. The school operates under a Church of Ireland ethos but welcomes children of all backgrounds and cultures, reflecting the diversity of the local community. It provides an enriched learning environment that balances academic rigour with a broad, experiential curriculum. Core subjects are complemented by a strong emphasis on the arts, including an annual Christmas play, regular music sessions, and a dedicated drama programme. Physical education features a wide range of events, and the school maintains active gardening and outdoor learning spaces, encouraging pupils to engage with nature. The school also offers a well‑equipped computer classroom and implements the Aistear early childhood curriculum for the infant classes, supporting holistic development through play‑based learning. Kilgariffe has achieved both the Green Flag and Active Flag, highlighting its commitment to environmental sustainability and active lifestyles. Regular community events such as open days, concerts on Inchydoney Beach, and participation in local festivals foster a sense of belonging and showcase the pupils’ talents.
Applying to Kilgariffe 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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
View Kilgariffe 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 Kilgariffe 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 Kilgariffe National School
How many pupils attend Kilgariffe National School?
Kilgariffe National School has 45 pupils enrolled, 17 girls and 28 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Kilgariffe National School a DEIS school?
No. Kilgariffe 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 Kilgariffe National School?
Kilgariffe National School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.