Scoil Mhuire
Tralee, Kerry
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 378 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 179 girls, 199 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 13530D the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Moyderwell Mercy Primary School provides a warm, family‑like atmosphere in the heart of Tralee town centre, where children feel safe, happy and motivated to learn. The school’s ethos, inspired by the Mercy tradition, prioritises the holistic development of each pupil, offering a secure, intellectually stimulating environment that encourages personal achievement rather than competition. A dedicated, highly motivated staff work collaboratively to deliver the full Primary School Curriculum, enriched by a strong emphasis on music, dance, drama and digital technology, while also providing additional sport opportunities such as swimming lessons and a state‑of‑the‑art gym facility. The school makes full use of its central location, drawing on nearby community resources including the Town Library, Tralee Town Park, Kerry County Museum, Siamsa Tíre and the Tralee Bay Wetlands to broaden educational experiences. Facilities include modern classrooms, specialised rooms for special educational needs, a renovated gym, and provision of hot school lunches, ensuring a well‑rounded, inclusive education for all children.
History
The Mercy Order established a convent in Moyderwell in 1872, converting outbuildings into the first classrooms known as St. Joseph’s. A new convent and school were built after the foundation stone was laid on 14 April 1878. The present primary school building dates from 1961, faced with sandstone from the original 1888 structure. In 2000 the secondary school vacated the site, and in 2005 the primary school became co‑educational, prompting a rise in enrolment and the addition of three new classrooms and support rooms in 2009. A renovated school gym opened in February 2011. Most recently, a multi‑million‑euro building project has received initial approval, delivering four mainstream classrooms, a two‑classroom base for special educational needs, a dedicated Special Education teaching room and reconfiguration of existing spaces.
Applying to Scoil Mhuire
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 Mhuire's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Scoil Mhuire. 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 Mhuire
How many pupils attend Scoil Mhuire?
Scoil Mhuire has 378 pupils enrolled, 179 girls and 199 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Mhuire a DEIS school?
Yes. Scoil Mhuire 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 Scoil Mhuire?
Scoil Mhuire has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.