Scoil Cholmcille
Kells, Meath
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 352 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 177 girls, 175 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16722E the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Colmcille’s Senior National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in Kells, County Meath, serving children from third to sixth class. The school operates under a Catholic ethos and is under the patronage of the Diocese of Meath, placing spiritual development alongside academic learning. A dedicated team of fourteen mainstream teachers, seven special‑education teachers and three school‑nurse assistants work together to meet the diverse needs of the pupil body, ensuring that each child receives appropriate support for their physical, social and emotional development. The school places the child at the centre of decision‑making, with a proactive Board of Management and an active Parents Association that foster strong home‑school links. Emphasis is placed on nurturing values such as kindness, respect and tolerance, and the environment encourages collaborative work between pupils, staff and families to achieve high standards. Extracurricular provision includes a range of sports and active‑school programmes, reflecting the school’s commitment to a well‑rounded education.
Applying to Scoil Cholmcille
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
View Scoil Cholmcille's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Scoil Cholmcille. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Scoil Cholmcille
How many pupils attend Scoil Cholmcille?
Scoil Cholmcille has 352 pupils enrolled, 177 girls and 175 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Cholmcille a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Cholmcille 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 Scoil Cholmcille?
Scoil Cholmcille has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.