St Nicholas Church Of Ireland School
Adare, Limerick
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 54 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 30 girls, 24 boys
- Ethos
- Church Of Ireland
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 08926B the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Nicholas’ National School, Adare is a co‑educational primary school situated on the banks of the River Maigue opposite the gates of Adare Manor. The school operates under a Church of Ireland ethos while welcoming children of all faiths and none, and is patronised by the Countess of Dunraven. With a small teaching team supported by two specialist assistants, the school provides a caring, inclusive climate that promotes spiritual, moral, intellectual, social and emotional development for every pupil. The campus combines historic charm with modern facilities. A historic Augustinian abbey dating from 1315 provides a unique setting, complemented by a contemporary building opened in 2008 that houses indoor and outdoor physical‑education spaces, a spacious play area, and specialist rooms for drama and support learning. All classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards, laptops and iPads, enabling a broad and varied curriculum enriched by a range of extra‑curricular clubs, sport and after‑school care. The school is well served by local bus routes and offers flexible pick‑up and drop‑off times for families.
History
The school was originally housed in an Augustinian Abbey dating back to 1315. It was established by the Earl of Dunraven in 1814 and became a national school in 1862, operating continuously since. On 1 September 2008 pupils and staff moved into a new building at the rear of the historic site, now used for PE and drama, while retaining access to the abbey’s church, cloisters, river walk and extensive grounds.
Applying to St Nicholas Church Of Ireland 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 Nicholas Church Of Ireland 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 Nicholas Church Of Ireland School
How many pupils attend St Nicholas Church Of Ireland School?
St Nicholas Church Of Ireland School has 54 pupils enrolled, 30 girls and 24 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Nicholas Church Of Ireland School a DEIS school?
No. St Nicholas Church Of Ireland 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 Nicholas Church Of Ireland School?
St Nicholas Church Of Ireland School has a Church Of Ireland ethos. It is a mixed primary school.