St Kierans National School
Birr, Offaly
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 71 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 32 girls, 39 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 11203B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
A co-educational Catholic primary school at Clareen, near Birr in Co. Offaly, Seir Kieran's National School has 71 pupils in three multi-grade groups: Junior and Senior Infants, First to Third Class, and Fourth to Sixth Class. Its patron is the Diocese of Ossory. French is taught to Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Class under the Say Yes to Language programme, and classes travel to Birr swimming pool. Hurling and camogie run through Cumann na mBunscol, with training at lunchtime and in the Seir Kieran GAA field. Gymnastics, hip-hop dance, music, drama and art also feature, and debating teams have met other primary schools in competition at Birr library. The school keeps a garden, works through Green Schools and marks a Biodiversity Action Day, and it has taken part in the Amber Flag initiative and holds Digital Schools, Enterprise and Science Foundation awards. Pupils are prepared for First Penance, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The school gives its motto as treating others as one would wish to be treated.
Applying to St Kierans 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 Kierans 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 Kierans National School
How many pupils attend St Kierans National School?
St Kierans National School has 71 pupils enrolled, 32 girls and 39 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Kierans National School a DEIS school?
No. St Kierans 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 Kierans National School?
St Kierans National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.