St Johns National School
Kenmare, Kerry
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 395 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 184 girls, 211 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20197K the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St John’s National School is a co‑educational primary school situated in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, serving the local community with a Catholic ethos. The school provides a broad curriculum that builds on a long tradition of holistic education, incorporating subjects such as English, mathematics, physical education, arts and, historically, specialised programmes in music, woodwork and science. Emphasis is placed on nurturing each child’s spiritual, social and academic development, with resources and policies in place to support a safe and inclusive learning environment. The school maintains an active communication network for parents, offering a school calendar, regular newsletters and an online enrolment process. Modern facilities are complemented by a rich heritage, reflected in the school’s continued commitment to community involvement and the preservation of its historic values. The amalgamation of St Francis’ and St Clare’s schools in 2012 expanded the campus, providing enhanced spaces for teaching, play and extracurricular activities.
History
The origins of St John’s trace back to 1861 when Mother Michael O’Hagan and six Sisters arrived in Kenmare to establish a school at the invitation of Fr John O’Sullivan. Initially housed in “Rose Cottage” with a breakfast kitchen, the school grew rapidly, reaching 577 pupils by 1870 and becoming a Classified School in 1874. A kindergarten equipped for Montessori education was added in 1889, and the institution later expanded to include a “Secondary Top” for girls in 1949, which became co‑educational in 1967. In the late 1960s the boys’ school merged with new facilities, and in 2003 the secondary provision was replaced by Pobal Scoil Inbhear Scéine. The most recent development occurred in 2012 when St Francis’ and St Clare’s schools amalgamated to form the present St John’s National School, continuing a legacy that dates back to the 15th‑century chapel of St John the Baptist in the area.
Applying to St Johns 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 Johns 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 Johns 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 Johns National School
How many pupils attend St Johns National School?
St Johns National School has 395 pupils enrolled, 184 girls and 211 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Johns National School a DEIS school?
No. St Johns 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 Johns National School?
St Johns National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.