Tinahely National School
Wicklow
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 133 about the same size as the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 62 girls, 71 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 18489L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Tinahely National School serves a mixed rural community in County Wicklow and operates under a Roman Catholic ethos that underpins all aspects of school life. The school’s mission is to help each child achieve their full potential by fostering spiritual, moral and cultural values, and by encouraging awareness of the local, national and global environment. A strong emphasis is placed on holistic development, supporting physical and emotional wellbeing while providing opportunities for expressive, artistic and creative growth. The teaching team promotes partnership with families and the wider community to create a happy, effective learning environment for all pupils. The campus has expanded considerably since its inception, now offering a range of modern facilities. In addition to the original three classrooms, extensions in 1981 and 2010 added a purpose‑room and three further classrooms. State‑of‑the‑art autism classes were introduced in 2019, enabling specialised support while maintaining integration with the wider school community. Outdoor amenities include a new basketball court, football pitches, a running path, climbing walls and a poured‑rubber play area for younger children, providing ample space for sport, recreation and outdoor learning.
History
Tinahely National School was originally built in 1961 with three classrooms. The school was extended in 1981 and again in 2010, adding a purpose room and three additional classrooms. In 2019, two specialised autism classrooms were opened to provide dedicated support for autistic pupils while promoting inclusion within the broader school community.
Applying to Tinahely 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 Tinahely 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 Tinahely National School
How many pupils attend Tinahely National School?
Tinahely National School has 133 pupils enrolled, 62 girls and 71 boys. That makes it about the same size as the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Tinahely National School a DEIS school?
No. Tinahely 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 Tinahely National School?
Tinahely National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.