St Fin Barre's
Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 75 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 35 girls, 40 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18356P the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Fin Barre’s National School, situated on Gillabbey Terrace in Cork, provides a nurturing and secure environment for junior infants through senior infants. The school’s ethos is rooted in a Christian atmosphere while actively embracing children of all faiths and none, promoting inclusion and acceptance as core values. Working in partnership with parents, the Board of Management and the wider community, the school aims to educate the whole child, fostering confidence, happiness and a sense of individual worth. The school serves the Church of Ireland parish areas of Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral and the Carrigrohane Union of parishes, yet its community is diverse, reflecting a range of religious backgrounds. A strong culture of mutual respect, good manners and peer support underpins daily life, encouraging children to develop socially as well as academically. Emphasis is placed on collaborative learning, with activities such as quizzes, theatre visits and open afternoons enriching the curriculum and strengthening community ties. Facilities are designed to support a holistic education, with dedicated classroom spaces for each class level and resources that enable interactive learning experiences. The school’s commitment to partnership with families is evident through regular communication, a dedicated parents’ area and an open-door policy for community involvement, ensuring that each child benefits from a supportive and engaging educational setting.
History
Cork council records dated 4th June 1696 contain the earliest known reference to a school in the parish, ordering that timber be set aside for St Fin Barre's free school. John Pomeroy, Archdeacon of Cork, bequeathed £100 in 1725 towards a Charity School in the parish and £60 worth of books for a library there. In 1730, Mrs Mary Shearman left an annual sum towards maintaining a schoolmaster for the parish's poor children. A new school off Gillabbey Street was ready in 1960, bringing together over 30 pupils from Dean Street under teacher Hester Jermyn and over 60 pupils from the Central school. Dr Hillery, then Minister for Education, performed the official opening on 30th January. An additional classroom was added in 2005, followed by a purpose-built infants classroom in 2006.
Applying to St Fin Barre's
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.
School-published admissions links
These links come from the school's published admissions material. Check the school year shown before relying on dates or place numbers.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Fin Barre's. 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 Fin Barre's
How many pupils attend St Fin Barre's?
St Fin Barre's has 75 pupils enrolled, 35 girls and 40 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Fin Barre's a DEIS school?
No. St Fin Barre's 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 Fin Barre's?
St Fin Barre's has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.