St Aidans National School
Kilkenny
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 175 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 95 girls, 80 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19344N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Aidan’s National School is a vibrant Catholic primary school situated in Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny. The school follows the Irish primary curriculum, placing a strong emphasis on holistic development – spiritual, moral, cognitive, emotional, imaginative, aesthetic, social and physical – and promotes Catholic values through daily practice and community involvement. A modern, child‑centred approach is supported by a range of digital resources, the “Digital School” initiative and the “Active School” programme, which encourages physical activity, health and wellbeing throughout the school day. The campus now comprises eight well‑equipped classrooms, a hall, a meeting room and a dedicated secretary’s office. Recent enhancements include a wheelchair‑accessible main entrance (2019) and a sensory garden created by staff and volunteers, providing a calming outdoor learning space. Additional specialist facilities consist of two smaller rooms for learning support and resource teaching, reflecting the school’s commitment to meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs. Enrolment is managed via an online form, and the school maintains robust child‑safeguarding, attendance and complaints procedures to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all learners.
History
St. Aidan’s National School was established in 1972 following the amalgamation of the former schools in Desart, Kilmanagh and Ballycallan. The Desart area originally hosted two schools – one built by Lord Desart in 1835 and a larger Scoil San Theresa erected in 1942, later becoming private dwellings; a schoolhouse in Lakyle served the community until its 1965 merger with Scoil San Theresa. Kilmanagh’s schoolhouse dates from 1910 and now functions as a community hall, while Ballycallan National School, built in 1930, also serves as a community hall today. The new St. Aidan’s opened with five classrooms; a sixth was added in 1982, and two additional learning‑support rooms were constructed in 2008. On 9 November 2018 Bishop Dermot Farrell blessed a new extension containing two classrooms, a staff room, the principal’s office, an assisted‑toilet and corridor. A wheelchair‑accessible main entrance was installed in 2019, bringing the total to eight classrooms, a hall, a meeting room and a secretary’s office.
Applying to St Aidans 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 Aidans 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 Aidans National School
How many pupils attend St Aidans National School?
St Aidans National School has 175 pupils enrolled, 95 girls and 80 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Aidans National School a DEIS school?
No. St Aidans 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 Aidans National School?
St Aidans National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.