St. Nessan's National School
Limerick
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 668 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 353 girls, 315 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 14409N the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Nessan’s National School is a co‑educational Catholic primary school serving the parish of Mungret/Crecora/Raheen on the western outskirts of Limerick City. The school accommodates up to seven hundred pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class and delivers a broad, cross‑curricular programme that seeks to develop the spiritual, moral, intellectual, social and cultural dimensions of each child. Its ethos is underpinned by the motto *Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí* (“Praise the young and they will flourish”), reflected in a school crest that features the historic Mungret Monastery. The school operates four Junior Infant and four Senior Infant classes, with three classes in each of the remaining year groups, supported by a sizeable team of class teachers, special‑education needs teachers, special needs assistants and ancillary staff. A vibrant Parents Association and an active Board of Management help maintain strong links with local religious, sporting, cultural and neighbourhood organisations, fostering a welcoming community atmosphere. Resources such as a free school books scheme, provision of stationery and a regularly updated school calendar are made available to support pupils and families.
History
St. Nessan’s National School has a long and proud tradition of education in the Mungret and Raheen area. While the school has occupied its present site since the mid‑1960s, the legacy of learning in the locality stretches back to medieval times, when the nearby Mungret Monastery is said to have taught up to fifteen hundred students. Over the past thirty years the school has experienced significant growth, expanding to accommodate around seven hundred pupils while retaining a friendly, welcoming environment for the local community.
Applying to St. Nessan'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
View St. Nessan's 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. Nessan's 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. Nessan's National School
How many pupils attend St. Nessan's National School?
St. Nessan's National School has 668 pupils enrolled, 353 girls and 315 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St. Nessan's National School a DEIS school?
No. St. Nessan'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.
What is the ethos of St. Nessan's National School?
St. Nessan's National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.