Shinrone Mixed National School
Birr, Offaly
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 121 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 49 girls, 72 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 12343W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Shinrone Mixed National School is a small, five‑teacher, co‑educational primary school situated in the village of Shinrone, County Offaly. Operating under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, the school serves the wider Shinrone parish, which spans both Offaly and Tipperary. As a Rural DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) school, it receives additional resources to support a broad, inclusive curriculum that caters for children of varying abilities and backgrounds. The school’s facilities have been expanded to meet contemporary needs. A major extension added two classrooms, a corridor and a disability‑accessible toilet in 2009, followed by further universal‑access improvements, including a disability washroom with a ceiling hoist, completed in early 2019. Dedicated SEN provision includes a Reading Recovery room and a Nurture Room. Outdoor amenities feature a large hard‑court and garden at the front of the site, playing pitches to the rear, and a newly acquired half‑acre of land earmarked for future sports and recreation development. The school places a strong emphasis on community involvement and holistic development, offering a range of extra‑curricular activities and fostering a supportive, restorative learning environment that encourages both academic progress and personal growth.
History
A Boys and Girls School operated on the Village Green in Shinrone from 1883 until 1975, with separate entrances but mixed‑class teaching introduced after 1960. The two halves were later merged and the institution was renamed Shinrone Mixed National School. The original building was demolished in 1975 when the current school was constructed. A major extension comprising two classrooms, a corridor and a disability toilet opened in 2009, and further universal‑access upgrades, including a disability washroom with a ceiling hoist, were completed by Easter 2019. The school now includes dedicated SEN rooms (Reading Recovery and Nurture) and has expanded its playing fields with the purchase of an additional half‑acre of land.
Applying to Shinrone Mixed 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 Shinrone Mixed 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 Shinrone Mixed National School
How many pupils attend Shinrone Mixed National School?
Shinrone Mixed National School has 121 pupils enrolled, 49 girls and 72 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Shinrone Mixed National School a DEIS school?
Yes. Shinrone Mixed National School 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 Shinrone Mixed National School?
Shinrone Mixed National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.