Vicarstown National School
Vicarstown, Cork
Key facts
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 167 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 91 girls, 76 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 06342L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Vicarstown National School is a Catholic primary school in Vicarstown, County Cork. The school has 5 mainstream classes and three ASD special classes, with an enrolment of 167 pupils. Its motto is 'Mácántacht i mBriathar agus i nGnó', meaning honesty in word and deed. The school participates in sporting activities including Sciath na Scol Hurling and Football, soccer, rugby and swimming. It also pursues initiatives such as the Green Schools Flag, Active Schools, Health Promoting School and Accelerated Reader. The school describes its approach as inclusive, seeking to address the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of pupils. A Board of Management, school staff, Parents Association and the wider school community work together in running the school. The school has an open night for prospective parents and an admissions window for the school year 2026/27 opening in October 2025.
History
Matehy Primary School, the predecessor of Vicarstown National School, was built in 1856 at St. Anne's Hill and funded by voluntary contributions. The building occupied the present Church car-park, running adjacent and parallel to the existing road. It originally incorporated two independent schools, one for boys and one for girls, with separate roll numbers. On September 16th 1904, there were 45 pupils enrolled, taught by two teachers, with coal fires at each end of the school. By 1950, the Primary Leaving Certificate was the formal State Examination, and pupils in Matehy excelled in the examination despite the small school building and rugged conditions.
Applying to Vicarstown 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 Vicarstown 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 Vicarstown National School
How many pupils attend Vicarstown National School?
Vicarstown National School has 167 pupils enrolled, 91 girls and 76 boys. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Vicarstown National School a DEIS school?
No. Vicarstown 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 Vicarstown National School?
Vicarstown National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.
Illustration based on a photo by David Hawgood. Photo and adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 2.0.