St John The Baptist
Cashel, Tipperary
Key facts
- DEIS
- Girls
- Pupils enrolled
- 293 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19692N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. John the Baptist Girls’ Primary School is an all‑girls Catholic primary school situated on the Old Road in Cashel, County Tipperary. It provides education for children from Junior Infants through to Sixth Class, delivering a balanced curriculum that blends academic learning with a wide range of extracurricular activities such as creative arts, sports, Gaelic games and environmental projects. The school operates within the unique St. John the Baptist School Complex, sharing a campus with the neighbouring boys’ school and the Cashel Deanery School – a configuration described as the only one of its kind in the country. The school community is supported by a dedicated team of approximately twenty teaching staff, alongside a full‑time caretaker, administrative personnel and special‑needs assistants, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for the current roll of 346 pupils. Facilities include modern classrooms, specialist rooms for art and music, a well‑equipped sports area and access to after‑school services provided by an independent operator. The ethos emphasises Catholic values, pastoral care and the development of personal responsibility, encouraging pupils to become confident, caring members of the wider community.
History
In 1826/27 a convent was built on Friar Street for the Bridgidine Sisters, but the project failed. On 9 November 1830 two Presentation Sisters arrived from Thurles and opened the Presentation Primary School for girls on 31 January 1831. A cut‑stone building at the convent gate was erected in 1860/61 and opened as a national school in April 1861 with 226 pupils, rising to 435 by 1863. Extensions were added in 1955 and again in 1970. Following a Department of Education decision, the present school site was acquired through the efforts of Dean Christopher Lee and construction began in July 1982. The school moved to the new St. John the Baptist School Complex on 9 November 1983. In 1999 the school transferred to parish trusteeship and was renamed St. John the Baptist Girls’ Primary School.
Applying to St John The Baptist
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 The Baptist. 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 The Baptist
How many pupils attend St John The Baptist?
St John The Baptist has 293 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St John The Baptist a DEIS school?
Yes. St John The Baptist 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 John The Baptist?
St John The Baptist has a Catholic ethos. It is a girls' primary school.