Kilmeen National School
Clonakilty, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 113 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 61 girls, 52 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19224D the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Kilmeen National School is a vibrant, mixed‑gender primary school serving the Rossmore community, situated about 8 km from both Clonakilty and Dunmanway. With a roll of roughly 120 pupils and a team of eight teachers, the school adopts a child‑centred approach that seeks to nurture each learner’s individual potential and respond to diverse needs. The ethos promotes a caring, family‑like atmosphere where pupils feel supported both academically and socially. The campus provides extensive indoor and outdoor facilities that enhance experiential learning. Outdoor spaces include a large grass pitch for soccer and athletics, several tarmacked courts for ball games, sandpits for imaginative play, and a vegetable garden. Inside, students benefit from a spacious sports hall, a multimedia/computer room, and a multi‑sensory room. Kilmeen places a strong emphasis on the arts and sport, boasting a celebrated annual Christmas concert at St Mary’s Theatre, success in national film‑making competitions, and active participation in Gaelic football, rugby and athletics through local GAA clubs. Enriching educational trips, such as tours to Rome and London, further broaden pupils’ horizons.
History
Kilmeen National School opened in 1972, consolidating the former two‑teacher Rossmore National School and Ballingurteen National School into a single four‑teacher institution with 70 pupils. Located roughly 2 km from each predecessor, the new school became known as Rossmore Central School, now Kilmeen National School, Rossmore. In 2010 the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe T.D., officially inaugurated a state‑of‑the‑art extension, expanding the school’s capacity and facilities.
Applying to Kilmeen 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Kilmeen National 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: 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 Kilmeen National School
How many pupils attend Kilmeen National School?
Kilmeen National School has 113 pupils enrolled, 61 girls and 52 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Kilmeen National School a DEIS school?
No. Kilmeen 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 Kilmeen National School?
Kilmeen National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by Neville Goodman. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 2.0.