Muire Gan Smal Castleisland
Castleisland, Kerry
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 123 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 83 girls, 40 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 14952L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Muire Gan Smál is a Catholic co‑educational primary school serving children from Junior Infants to 6th class in the heart of Castleisland, Co. Kerry. The school provides a balanced curriculum that blends traditional academic learning with a strong emphasis on personal development and wellbeing. A dedicated support teaching team works alongside six mainstream classes, and three specialised classrooms are equipped to meet the needs of pupils with autism spectrum disorder, ensuring an inclusive learning environment for all. The school boasts a wide range of extra‑curricular activities, including Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) sports, gymnastics and basketball, encouraging pupils to develop confidence and teamwork skills. On‑site before‑ and after‑school care supports families with flexible supervision. Recent achievements such as the SFI Curious Mind Gold Award highlight the school’s commitment to STEM education, covering science, technology, engineering, maths and a showcase of student projects. A Whole‑School Evaluation carried out by the Department of Education in January 2024 praised the school’s learning environment, teaching quality and pupil wellbeing.
Applying to Muire Gan Smal Castleisland
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 Muire Gan Smal Castleisland. 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 Muire Gan Smal Castleisland
How many pupils attend Muire Gan Smal Castleisland?
Muire Gan Smal Castleisland has 123 pupils enrolled, 83 girls and 40 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Muire Gan Smal Castleisland a DEIS school?
Yes. Muire Gan Smal Castleisland is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of Muire Gan Smal Castleisland?
Muire Gan Smal Castleisland has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.