St Abbey's National School
Lombardstown, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 95 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 47 girls, 48 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17823P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Abbey’s National School (Glantane N.S.) is a rural, co‑educational Catholic primary school that provides a well‑ordered, caring and happy atmosphere for its pupils. The school’s ethos is built around the motto “Be Nice, Be Kind, Be Tolerant”, and it places major importance on fostering a nurturing environment that supports both academic achievement and social‑emotional development. A strong emphasis is placed on mental health and wellbeing, with dedicated initiatives to protect and nourish this aspect of school life. The curriculum is tailored to each child, promoting confidence, self‑esteem and a holistic development that includes intellectual, spiritual, physical and cultural growth. The school actively promotes community links, drawing on its picturesque setting beside the Blackwater and at the foothills of Mount Hillary and St Abbey’s Well. A wide range of extracurricular programmes enrich the pupil experience, including Forest School, Digital Learning, STEAM projects, Junior Entrepreneur activities, sporting and cultural events, and a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing programme. These opportunities aim to develop life‑skills, resilience and a love of learning in a friendly, inclusive and pupil‑centred environment.
History
The school was built in 1952 and officially opened by the Bishop of Cloyne in 1953.
Applying to St Abbey's 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 St Abbey's 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 St Abbey's National School
How many pupils attend St Abbey's National School?
St Abbey's National School has 95 pupils enrolled, 47 girls and 48 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Abbey's National School a DEIS school?
No. St Abbey's 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 St Abbey's National School?
St Abbey's National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by kevin higgins. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 2.0.