Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn
Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 200 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 79 girls, 121 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 04186N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn is a mixed Catholic primary school situated in the scenic parish of Inniscarra, Co. Cork. The school caters for eight mainstream classes alongside four specialist classes for pupils with autism and provides additional support through dedicated support teachers. Its modern, well‑maintained campus spans a generous site that includes a new playground, school garden, basketball courts, spacious play areas and a full‑size playing pitch. The building houses a well‑equipped P.E. hall, a new computer room, a sensory room, a soft‑play area and an after‑school child‑minding facility, offering a comprehensive environment for both academic and personal development. The school places a strong emphasis on a holistic, inclusive and child‑centred education, encouraging pupils to engage in a wide range of extracurricular activities. These include Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, basketball, tennis, soccer, rowing, rugby, swimming and music, with a whole‑school musical produced every second year. Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn has been recognised for its achievements in sport, the arts and community involvement, earning awards such as the Cork City Sports Best School 2019, multiple Green Flags, Amber Flags and a Blue Flag, and national accolades in art, science and entrepreneurship.
History
Berrings National School was founded in 1847. The original white cottage, now adjacent to the school, later served as the local post office until the late 1990s. A new four‑classroom building was erected in 1971, followed by an extension and school hall in 2001. Further extensions were added in 2009, 2011 and 2017, creating the spacious, modern campus that exists today. Throughout its history the school has maintained a close partnership between home, school and the wider community.
Applying to Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn
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 Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn. 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 Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn
How many pupils attend Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn?
Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn has 200 pupils enrolled, 79 girls and 121 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn 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 Náisiúnta Bhiorainn?
Scoil Náisiúnta Bhiorainn has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.