St Canice S Convent
New Ross, Wexford
Key facts
- DEIS
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 186 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 93 girls, 93 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 01840C the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Canice’s National School is a vibrant primary school that delivers a holistic education centred on the development of the whole child. Academic learning is balanced with a broad co‑curricular and extra‑curricular programme, encouraging pupils to achieve high standards while also nurturing physical, social, spiritual and emotional growth. The curriculum follows the six subject areas prescribed by the Department of Education & Science, including Irish and English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Physical Education and Social, Personal and Health Education. The school places a strong emphasis on community involvement and personal responsibility. Students take part in initiatives such as the Amber Flag, Green Schools, Active Flag, Health Promotion, Cycle Safety and the Next Step programme, and they contribute to litter‑wardening, recycling and charity fundraising projects. A safe, caring and respectful environment is promoted through comprehensive safeguarding and anti‑bullying policies, ensuring that every child can learn and thrive in confidence.
History
St. Canice's is one of three schools serving the parish of Rosbercon. According to local historian James Murphy's history of the parish, published in 2000, Master Joseph Kelly and Mistress Katherine O'Brien were teaching at Rosbercon National School in 1846, and the school stayed under lay control until 1925. The Holy Faith Sisters then took charge on Schoolhouse Road, and the school took the name St. Canice's. It became a two-teacher school in 1946, a period remembered locally as The Bothán. A new St. Canice's building was built in 1961, with pre-fabricated extensions added in 1990, 1997 and 2003. The Holy Faith Sisters' connection with the school ended in 1997 when Sr. Nuala Kavanagh retired. The school later became a parish school, with its first lay principal since 1925.
Applying to St Canice S Convent
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 Canice S Convent. 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 Canice S Convent
How many pupils attend St Canice S Convent?
St Canice S Convent has 186 pupils enrolled, 93 girls and 93 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Canice S Convent a DEIS school?
Yes. St Canice S Convent 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 St Canice S Convent?
St Canice S Convent has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.