Knockea National School
Ballyneety, Limerick
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 191 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 89 girls, 102 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 06539H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Knockea National School is a co‑educational primary school set in an idyllic rural countryside, offering a welcoming environment for children from the local community. The school’s motto, *“Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí”* (“Praise the young and they will succeed”), reflects its commitment to nurturing each pupil’s intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural development. Rooted in a Roman Catholic ethos while recognising all faiths, the school provides a well‑ordered, caring and secure atmosphere where respect for people and property is paramount and gender equality is actively promoted among staff and pupils. The curriculum is built around four pillars – learning through exploration, experiencing through music, expressing through creativity and starting the path to success. This holistic approach encourages curiosity, artistic expression and confidence, while staff development programmes and a strong parents’ association support continuous improvement. The school also promotes the use of the Irish language and strives to foster a sense of community, responsibility and self‑esteem in every child.
Applying to Knockea 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 Knockea 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 Knockea National School
How many pupils attend Knockea National School?
Knockea National School has 191 pupils enrolled, 89 girls and 102 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Knockea National School a DEIS school?
No. Knockea 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 Knockea National School?
Knockea National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.