St Conaires National School
Shannon, Clare
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 338 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 167 girls, 171 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19274S the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Conaire’s National School is a mixed, Roman Catholic primary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Killaloe. The school provides education for children from Junior Infants through to Sixth Class, with two classes at each level and a focus on small, supportive Junior Infant groups. The curriculum is delivered through a co‑operative approach, underpinned by written policies and regular staff collaboration, ensuring a consistent and inclusive learning environment for all pupils. The campus comprises a main building of two eight‑classroom blocks linked by an annexe that houses administrative offices, learning support rooms and an assembly hall. In 2013 three additional classrooms were added, and the school also hosts the on‑site pre‑school Little Bubbles, whose children progress to Junior Infants each September. Each classroom is equipped with a teaching computer, interactive whiteboard and high‑speed broadband, and pupils have scheduled access to tablet computers to enhance their learning. Outdoor facilities include a large playground, basketball court, grass playing field, school garden and an adjoining wooded area used for science, mathematics and environmental studies. Support for pupils with additional needs is provided by a team of Special Needs Assistants, and the school is staffed by a full‑time secretary, caretaker and cleaner. The school day runs from 8:55 am to 2:35 pm for senior classes, with dedicated break times and a welcoming environment that promotes the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual development of each child.
History
St. Conaire’s National School opened in 1968. The school was first extended in 1974 and underwent a further expansion in 2013, adding three new classrooms to the existing facilities.
Applying to St Conaires 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
View St Conaires National School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Conaires National School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Conaires National School
How many pupils attend St Conaires National School?
St Conaires National School has 338 pupils enrolled, 167 girls and 171 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Conaires National School a DEIS school?
No. St Conaires 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 Conaires National School?
St Conaires National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.