Tobar an Leinn
Abbeyleix, Laois
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 168 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 68 girls, 100 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 16667W the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Tobar an Léinn is a five-teacher Catholic primary school in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, under the patronage of the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. Pupils are drawn from a rural catchment area between Portlaoise, Mountrath and Abbeyleix. The school building incorporates environmentally friendly features including passive-solar design, a grass roof, insulation made from recycled paper and a rain water harvesting system that pipes water to the toilets. The school motto is "Courage for life, Life with humour, Humour with dignity." Classes are organised into four multi-grade groups: Junior and Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd Class, 3rd and 4th Class, and 5th and 6th Class. The school participates in Green Schools and Active Schools programmes, and pupils take part in activities including gymnastics, swimming, basketball, debating, a school choir and a school band.
History
The school was officially opened on 14th June 2004 by Brian Lenihan, then Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children. Pupils and staff first moved into the new building in June 2003, with an enrolment of 70 pupils and three teachers. An extension was added in 2008 to accommodate growing numbers.
Applying to Tobar an Leinn
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 Tobar an Leinn. 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 Tobar an Leinn
How many pupils attend Tobar an Leinn?
Tobar an Leinn has 168 pupils enrolled, 68 girls and 100 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Tobar an Leinn a DEIS school?
No. Tobar an Leinn 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 Tobar an Leinn?
Tobar an Leinn has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.