Muckalee National School
Ballyfoyle, Kilkenny
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 192 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 100 girls, 92 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17093E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Muckalee National School (St Brendan’s N.S.) is a Catholic, co‑educational primary school situated in Muckalee, County Kilkenny. The school is committed to providing a well‑ordered, caring and secure environment where pupils’ intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs are nurtured. Emphasising an inclusive ethos, the school seeks to boost self‑esteem, foster respect for people and property and encourage responsibility among all members of the school community, while recognising and respecting other religions alongside its Catholic foundation. The curriculum is delivered within a supportive atmosphere that balances academic rigour with the development of personal and social skills. Facilities support a broad range of activities, from classroom learning to extracurricular programmes, and the school maintains strong links with the local community, including a community creche and transport services. Admission for the 2025/26 academic year is open, with information and application details readily accessible online.
Applying to Muckalee 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 Muckalee 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 Muckalee National School
How many pupils attend Muckalee National School?
Muckalee National School has 192 pupils enrolled, 100 girls and 92 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Muckalee National School a DEIS school?
No. Muckalee 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 Muckalee National School?
Muckalee National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.