Kilkenny Mixed National School
Kilkenny
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 198 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 101 girls, 97 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17218V the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Kilkenny Church of Ireland National School, popularly known as “The Model School”, is a Church of Ireland‑managed National School situated in a modern purpose‑built facility just off Castlecomer Road, within the historic city of Kilkenny. The school provides a co‑educational environment for junior and senior infants through to senior classes, operating from 8.55 am each day, with early dismissal for the infant classes at 1.45 pm and for older pupils at 2.40 pm. Its curriculum places a strong emphasis on moral and spiritual development, drawing on Biblical teaching and the Follow Me Religious Education programme, while also fostering intellectual, social and academic growth for all pupils regardless of background or ability. The school’s ethos promotes a community where honesty, fairness, justice and respect are nurtured, and where pupils experience a sense of belonging and civic responsibility. A broad range of extracurricular activities supports this ethos, including swimming, soccer, hurling, rugby, basketball, regular school trips, theatre visits and concerts, ensuring a well‑rounded experience that balances academic rigour with physical and cultural development.
History
Kilkenny Model School first opened on Ormonde Road in 1856. In 1936 the school relocated to new premises at Newpark Drive, where it remained until the current building, situated in the grounds of Kilkenny College, was opened in 2000.
Applying to Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny Mixed National School
How many pupils attend Kilkenny Mixed National School?
Kilkenny Mixed National School has 198 pupils enrolled, 101 girls and 97 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Kilkenny Mixed National School a DEIS school?
No. Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny Mixed National School?
Kilkenny Mixed National School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.