St. Josephs National School Cree
Kilrush, Clare
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 38 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 15 girls, 23 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20570G the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Joseph’s National School, Cree is a co‑educational Catholic primary school situated in the village of Cree, West Clare, under the patronage of the Bishop of Killaloe. The school serves a small community of around 40 pupils (2025‑2026) and offers a nurturing environment where pupils, parents and staff work in partnership. Its educational ethos combines a Catholic foundation with respect for all faiths, emphasising a positive climate, the development of self‑esteem, gender equity and the encouragement of Irish language use. A strong focus is placed on fostering a lifelong love of learning through a balanced curriculum, group‑work, directed self‑discovery and a three‑year planning cycle. The campus includes three mainstream classrooms, a resource room, a general‑purpose (G.P.) room, a library and dedicated staff facilities. A major refurbishment in 2008‑2009 added two new classrooms, an office and modern staff amenities, while the 2009 extension further expanded learning space. The school grounds also host Croí na Nóg Preschool, which provides a seamless transition to primary education, a breakfast club from 8.30 am and after‑school care. Uniforms are navy and white with a red cardigan or jumper, reinforcing a sense of community and belonging.
History
The original one‑room schoolhouse in Cree was funded in 1844, with the grant paid in March 1846 and a teacher appointed for up to 100 pupils. As numbers grew, a new three‑classroom school was opened in February 1959 on a site acquired in 1952. The former building was demolished in 1976 and replaced by a community centre. A comprehensive refurbishment in 2008‑2009 introduced new classrooms, a resource room, office and staff facilities, and an extension was officially opened on 25 October 2009. In August 2022 the school amalgamated with the neighbouring Clohanbeg school, adding a third mainstream classroom and expanding the roll number.
Applying to St. Josephs National School Cree
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. Josephs National School Cree. 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. Josephs National School Cree
How many pupils attend St. Josephs National School Cree?
St. Josephs National School Cree has 38 pupils enrolled, 15 girls and 23 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Josephs National School Cree a DEIS school?
No. St. Josephs National School Cree 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. Josephs National School Cree?
St. Josephs National School Cree has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.