Tiernaboul National School
Kerry
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 57 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 28 girls, 29 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15644F the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Tiernaboul National School is a mixed Catholic primary school situated in the rural parish of Killarney, County Kerry. With an enrolment of 63 pupils, the school benefits from a close‑knit community where staff know each child and family personally, fostering a supportive and nurturing environment. The curriculum follows the Department of Education’s Primary School Curriculum, covering eleven subject areas including English, Gaeilge, Mathematics, History, Geography, Science, Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Physical Education and SPHE, with religion taught in all classes. A strong emphasis is placed on the arts, music (including a ukulele programme through Music Generation), chess, and a range of sporting activities such as Gaelic football, camogie, soccer, swimming and athletics, encouraging well‑rounded development. The school’s facilities include three large mainstream classrooms, two dedicated special‑education rooms, and an outdoor play area that offers both hard‑surface courts and a grass field. Each classroom is equipped with a teacher’s laptop and an interactive whiteboard, supporting modern teaching methods. A preschool, Creative Kids Pre‑School, operates within part of the original 1912 building, and the school provides a healthy eating policy with a hot lunch service supplied by The Lunchbag. State funding and governance by a Board of Management under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Kerry ensure a stable, community‑focused operation.
History
The original school building was constructed in 1912. In 2010 an extension was completed, adding three new classrooms, a special‑education room/office and a staff room. Part of the historic structure now houses Creative Kids Pre‑School. The school continues to serve the rural Killarney community as a mixed primary school.
Applying to Tiernaboul 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 Tiernaboul 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 Tiernaboul National School
How many pupils attend Tiernaboul National School?
Tiernaboul National School has 57 pupils enrolled, 28 girls and 29 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Tiernaboul National School a DEIS school?
No. Tiernaboul 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 Tiernaboul National School?
Tiernaboul National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.