St Mary's National School
Kilkenny
Key facts
- Some Irish-medium
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 398 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 191 girls, 207 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- Some subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20272V the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Mary’s National School is a co‑educational Catholic primary school situated on Maudlin Street in Thomastown, County Kilkenny. The school serves over 460 pupils and operates under the patronage of Bishop Niall Coll, Bishop of Ossory, following the Department of Education’s curricular programmes. It places a strong emphasis on inclusiveness, equality of access and respect for the diverse cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds of its community, while also promoting parental choice and involvement in the educational process. The campus boasts a range of modern facilities, including a state‑of‑the‑art PE hall, two outdoor pitches, two basketball courts and a ball‑wall for physical education. Every classroom is equipped with a variety of ICT resources to support interactive learning. The teaching team comprises 23 educators, including mainstream, special‑education and administrative staff, supported by three special‑needs assistants. As a recognised Green School, St Mary’s integrates environmental awareness into its ethos, encouraging sustainable practices throughout the school day.
History
The origins of education in Thomastown date back to 1826 when twenty‑four schools served a population of 1 100 children, most of whom were Roman Catholic. In 1839 the parish established a two‑storey national schoolhouse on a rock‑face at the edge of the graveyard, initially educating boys and later sharing space with girls until the girls moved to the newly built Convent of Mercy in 1910. The boys’ school, first led by Principal John Walsh, received positive inspector reports in the early 20th century. After the original building became unsuitable, the Ladywell Boys National School opened in 1949. In 1990s the Ladywell school amalgamated with the Convent of Mercy National School, creating the present St Mary’s National School, which continues the legacy of over a century of local education.
Applying to St Mary's 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 Mary's 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 Mary's National School
How many pupils attend St Mary's National School?
St Mary's National School has 398 pupils enrolled, 191 girls and 207 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Mary's National School a DEIS school?
No. St Mary's 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.
Does St Mary's National School teach through Irish?
Partly. St Mary's National School teaches some subjects through Irish.