Shrone National School
Kerry
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 28 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 12 girls, 16 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17747C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Shrone National School is a small, rural primary school situated in the village of Shrone, Rathmore, County Kerry. It serves children from junior infants to sixth class, offering a full national curriculum that balances core subjects such as Irish, English, mathematics and science with practical and creative activities including manual instruction, drawing, cookery and physical drill. The school places a strong emphasis on community ownership and participation, reflecting the long‑standing tradition of national schools acting as local hubs for meetings and events. The learning environment is characterised by modest, well‑maintained facilities that have evolved from the original two‑room building erected in 1863. Small class sizes enable personalised attention and a supportive atmosphere, while the school’s commitment to the Irish language and cultural heritage is evident in its curriculum and extracurricular programmes. Parents and local residents are actively involved in school life, reinforcing the close ties between the school and the surrounding community.
History
Shrone National School was founded in 1863 by Rev. E. Walsh, with the Bishop of Kerry acting as patron and Canon Walsh as manager. The original two‑room structure (each 22 ft × 20 ft) was built largely by local hands; the Boys’ School opened on 2 February 1863 and the Girls’ School followed a month later. Throughout the period of British rule (1863‑1922) the school operated separate boys’ and girls’ sections, employing a succession of principals and assistants, and delivered instruction entirely in English under a curriculum that included kindergarten, manual instruction, drawing, elementary science, singing, cookery, physical drill, English and arithmetic. Following Irish independence, the Department of Education reinstated the Irish language in the curriculum, and the school has continued to serve the community into the present day.
Applying to Shrone 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 Shrone 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 Shrone National School
How many pupils attend Shrone National School?
Shrone National School has 28 pupils enrolled, 12 girls and 16 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Shrone National School a DEIS school?
No. Shrone 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 Shrone National School?
Shrone National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.