Murhur National School
Moyvane, Kerry
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 78 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 33 girls, 45 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13540G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Murhur National School is a co‑educational, Catholic primary school situated in Moyvane, Co. Kerry. It provides a well‑ordered, caring and secure environment that nurtures the spiritual, intellectual, physical, moral and cultural development of its pupils. The school follows a child‑centred approach, encouraging curiosity and creativity through a balanced programme that includes daily morning meetings, a strong STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) curriculum, regular physical activity such as yoga, and a rich musical offering. The school operates three classrooms: a Junior room for Junior and Senior Infants, a Senior room for Third, Fourth and Fifth classes, and a mixed classroom for Sixth class. Staffing comprises three classroom teachers and a Special Educational Needs Teaching assistant, with plans to expand to a four‑teacher model. Facilities are modest but purpose‑built for a small local community, supporting a wide range of extracurricular activities that reflect the school’s ambition to deliver “education is fun first” and to prepare children for lifelong learning.
History
Education in Moyvane began in 1818 when the Kildare Place Society opened a pay‑and‑free school under master Michael Keane. The school grew rapidly, reaching over 115 pupils by 1819 and becoming a National School in 1833 after a brief period under the Society’s auspices. A severe storm in 1839 damaged the original building, leading to a rebuilt one‑room school in 1843. The present Murhur National School was originally constructed in 1888 as separate boys’ and girls’ schools, later amalgamated after a series of principal appointments and a typhoid outbreak in 1898. In 1969 the three local schools (Murhur Boys, Murhur Girls and Kilbaha) merged under a single principal, and the historic 1888 premises were closed in 1975 when the current Moyvane site opened. Since then the school has continued to serve the community, expanding its facilities and curriculum while retaining its Catholic ethos.
Applying to Murhur 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 Murhur 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 Murhur National School
How many pupils attend Murhur National School?
Murhur National School has 78 pupils enrolled, 33 girls and 45 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Murhur National School a DEIS school?
No. Murhur 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 Murhur National School?
Murhur National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.