St Vincents Special School
Limerick
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 100 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 23 girls, 77 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19200M the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St Vincent’s School, Lisnagry is a regional special‑needs school for children aged four to eighteen, providing education for pupils with moderate learning disabilities, severe and profound general learning disabilities, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. The school follows the Department of Education and Skills’ Primary, Junior and Senior Cycle curricula within a child‑centred framework, integrating independent‑living skills throughout daily routines to promote autonomy and holistic development. The learning environment is designed to support a diverse range of needs. Facilities include a dedicated canteen building offering hot meals and a space for occupational‑therapy sessions, a Resource Room for more intensive support, a Tranquillity Room for sensory regulation, and specialised ASD classes. Outdoor provision features a playground known as “Leprechaun Land”, and two modular classrooms added in 2019 expand capacity. The school’s ethos emphasises an open, caring, Christian‑multicultural community where individuality is respected, creativity encouraged, and effort recognised, aiming to equip pupils with the skills required for fulfilling adult lives.
History
St Vincent’s School opened in September 1966 under the Daughters of Charity, becoming one of the first schools in the south of Ireland for students with moderate learning disabilities and receiving full Department of Education recognition. In 1986 a pilot class for severe learning disabilities was introduced, and following the 1993 High Court ruling by Judge O’Hanlon, the school expanded to include two classes for severe/profound disabilities. Subsequent developments included a Resource Room (1999), an Occupational Therapy room (2002), replacement of prefabricated structures (2003), junior and senior ASD classes (2004), the “Leprechaun Land” playground and a Tranquillity Room (2005), and the addition of two modular classrooms in November 2019. The school continues to evolve its provision in line with national special‑education policy and curriculum reforms.
Applying to St Vincents Special 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 Vincents Special 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 Vincents Special School
How many pupils attend St Vincents Special School?
St Vincents Special School has 100 pupils enrolled, 23 girls and 77 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Vincents Special School a DEIS school?
No. St Vincents Special 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 Vincents Special School?
St Vincents Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.