St John Of God National School
Kilkenny
Key facts
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 330 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 17314R the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. John of God National School is a girls’ primary school situated on Upper New Street in the heart of Kilkenny City. The school follows a child‑centred curriculum that seeks to nurture each pupil’s unique potential while promoting health, happiness and a love of learning. Classes run from 9:00 am to 1:50 pm for Junior and Senior Infants and until 2:50 pm for First to Sixth Class, providing a structured yet flexible day for students. The campus comprises fifteen modern classrooms, a spacious staffroom, offices and storage facilities, together with a splendid hall that hosts performances and community events. Outdoor amenities include a large playground with a basketball court, a school garden, and access to the nearby Parish Field on Coote’s Lane for Gaelic football, camogie and other physical‑education activities. A recent extension added three new classrooms and a front lobby, further enhancing the learning environment.
History
The St John of God Sisters arrived in Kilkenny in 1886, establishing their first school on Jacob Street before acquiring the present site from the Christian Brothers the following year. Early wooden structures housing two classrooms and a cookery room were later replaced; the original buildings were demolished in the 1940s and a main block erected. In 1969 a five‑classroom extension with an assembly hall and administrative rooms was added, officially opened in 1971, bringing the total to thirteen classrooms. A double pre‑fab was installed in 1984 to meet rising enrolment, and between 2014 and 2017 it was replaced by a permanent structure containing three new classrooms and a front lobby.
Applying to St John Of God 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 John Of God 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 John Of God National School
How many pupils attend St John Of God National School?
St John Of God National School has 330 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St John Of God National School a DEIS school?
No. St John Of God 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 John Of God National School?
St John Of God National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' primary school.