Lisavaird Mixed National School
Clonakilty, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 70 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 24 girls, 46 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18659K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Lisavaird National School (LNS) is a mixed‑gender primary school that combines a traditional Irish curriculum with a Montessori‑inspired approach, offering a play‑based learning environment for children from junior infants to sixth class. The school emphasises “vision, growth and development” and maintains a favourable pupil‑teacher ratio, ensuring that each child receives personalised attention. Situated in a convenient location, the campus includes dedicated indoor and outdoor learning spaces, a newly installed playscape for junior and senior infants, and specialised areas for science, maths and creative projects. Recent initiatives such as Maths Week, Science Week, and a range of cross‑curricular projects (e.g., the Mexico cultural project and DNA extraction workshop) demonstrate a commitment to experiential learning and community involvement. The school also promotes holistic wellbeing through active‑school programmes and Green Schools initiatives, encouraging physical activity, environmental stewardship and healthy eating. Parents are supported with a comprehensive online enrolment system, a welcome booklet, and clear guidance on uniform, attendance and communication procedures. Regular updates via the news feed, newsletters and a vibrant gallery keep families informed of school events, celebrations and fundraising activities, fostering a strong partnership between staff, pupils and the wider community.
History
Lisavaird's schoolhouse dates to 1887, when a plaque marks the completion of the building, constructed of brown stone quarried half a mile away. The new building held two separate schools, one for boys and one for girls, divided by a wall inside the playground, an arrangement that lasted until the 1920s, when the two schools combined. Before 1887, Griffith's Valuation of 1851-2 recorded a schoolhouse on the site under the ownership of Rev. Horace Townsend. School attendance became compulsory nationally under the 1926 School Attendance Act. The dividing wall stood until it was demolished in 2012. The current school building was built in 1962. Michael Collins is noted as a past pupil.
Applying to Lisavaird 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
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Lisavaird Mixed 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 Lisavaird Mixed National School
How many pupils attend Lisavaird Mixed National School?
Lisavaird Mixed National School has 70 pupils enrolled, 24 girls and 46 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Lisavaird Mixed National School a DEIS school?
No. Lisavaird 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 Lisavaird Mixed National School?
Lisavaird Mixed National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.