School patron in Clare

Bishop of Killaloe

Schools in County Clare under this patron.

Other patrons in Clare Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora · 13 Bishop of Limerick · 3 Limerick & Clare ETB · 2 Educate Together · 1 An Foras Pátrúnachta · 1 Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert COI · 1

Schools: 88; of 109 in Clare
Pupils: 10,892; 84% of Clare's pupils
Average school size: 123.8; Clare: 118.5
Average class size: 21.30; Clare: 21.09

Growing and falling since 2015/16

Each school's change in pupils over 10 years, from 2015/16 to 2025/26. A change of 10% or more either way counts as growing or falling.

Every school's change

85 schools with figures for both years

Schools still filling their classes in 2015/16, and schools opened since, are listed separately.

39fell by 10% or more

27within 10%

19grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 27Down 10 to 25% · 12Within 10% · 27Up 10 to 25% · 9Up 25% or more · 10

Average class size in these schools went from 23.9 in 2015/16 to 21.4 in 2025/26. 21 of the 39 schools that fell by 10% or more kept or added classes. A fall in pupils can mean smaller classes rather than fewer children wanting places. Smaller classes

Grown most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 Scoil Realt na MaraKilkee, Co. Clare 62 → 134 +116.1%
2 Miltown Malbay B N SMiltown Malbay, Co. Clare 89 → 128 +43.8%
3 S N Cluain MuingeNewmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare 150 → 205 +36.7%
4 S N Dubh RathClarecastle, Co. Clare 85 → 113 +32.9%
5 Inchicronan Central NSCrusheen, Co. Clare 119 → 158 +32.8%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 Burrane N SKilrush, Co. Clare 62 → 17 −72.6%
2 O Callaghans Mills N SO'Callaghan's Mills, Co. Clare 64 → 29 −54.7%
3 Clooney N STulla, Co. Clare 102 → 48 −52.9%
4 S N Cill MuireSixmilebridge, Co. Clare 135 → 65 −51.9%
5 Tomgraney N STuamgraney, Co. Clare 86 → 47 −45.3%

Ranked by percentage change. Only schools with 50 or more pupils in 2015/16 are ranked, leaving out any still filling their classes then, because a few pupils make a big percentage in a small or new school. An amalgamation, a new school nearby or smaller classes can also explain a big rise or fall.

Newer schools

3 schools still filling their classes in 2015/16 or opened since, with 134 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

Scoil MhichilKilrush · opened 2013/14 66
St. Josephs National School CreeKilrush · opened 2022/23 38
Coore National SchoolEnnis · opened 2012/13 30

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to.

Average class size: 21.30
Mainstream classes: 498
Classes of 30 or more: 32
Schools with a class of 30+: 21

Teachers

Teachers in the 88 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.

How we count teachers

Class teachers in 2025/26: 498; Up 93 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 9%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 784; Estimate: 498 class teachers, 29 principals and deputies, 209 special education and 48 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 696; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 4 / 12; 4 schools gained a class teacher, 12 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

What parents would prefer

2,506 of the 6,954 households with children at the 75 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 13 more schools had too few answers for their own results. These are preferences, not applications.

About these figures

The Department's own results: Interactive map Summary report with county figures (PDF)

Prefer a multi-denominational patron: 41%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish: 19%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex: 2%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 5%

16 schools where half or more of parents would prefer a multi-denominational patron
16 schools where a quarter or more would prefer teaching through Irish
2 of 2 single-sex schools where most parents would prefer co-educational

Source: Department of Education and Youth, Primary School Survey results, published 23 June 2026. Figures here add up the parents at each school with its own results.

Schools

88 schools, largest first.

Change over

Select a column heading to sort

	Roll number
Bunscoil na mBraithreEnnis	16677C	643	−3.3%	+20.9%	24	26.29	29	0
Ennis N SEnnis	15042A	615	+9.4%	−12.4%	25	23.80	28	0
Gael SC Mhichil ChiosogInis	19838P	451	+11.9%	+128.9%	19	23.42	31	1
Sixmilebridge N SSixmilebridge	16908S	423	−19.6%	+50.0%	18	22.83	29	0
Barefield Mixed N SEnnis	14830U	390	+0.3%	+17.1%	16	24.06	28	0
Clarecastle National SchoolClarecastle	17026M	362	−4.2%	+21.5%	15	23.73	32	1
St Conaires NSShannon	19274S	338	−32.1%	−29.3%	15	22.13	32	1
Scoil na Mainistreach Quin DanganQuin	20476O	330	+5.1%	–	13	24.46	32	4
Convent of Mercy National SchoolKilrush	20041C	329	+6.1%	+13.1%	16	19.81	24	0
Holy Family SNREnnis	07315N	306	−10.5%	−5.8%	14	20.79	24	0
Scoil Seanain NaofaClonlara	04548V	276	−19.1%	−10.7%	11	25.09	33	1
S N Cnoc an EinEnnis	17583V	262	+0.8%	+18.0%	11	23.82	34	3
St Aidans NSShannon	19698C	260	−2.6%	−3.7%	11	23.18	33	2
St Mochullas N.S.Tulla	20075T	259	−9.4%	+11.2%	10	25.30	34	3
Scoil na Maighdine MhuireNewmarket-on-Fergus	20127M	238	+13.9%	+35.2%	10	23.20	31	1
Chriost RiEnnis	19559L	226	+2.3%	−5.4%	12	18.33	24	0
Naomh TolaShannon	19552U	218	−3.5%	+19.8%	8	25.75	34	3
Ballyea Mixed N SEnnis	13418J	212	+8.2%	+33.3%	9	23.56	31	1
S N Cluain MuingeNewmarket-on-Fergus	18032M	205	+36.7%	+147.0%	8	25.62	30	1
Holy Family Junior SchoolEnnis	17957N	167	−12.6%	−20.5%	11	14.09	18	0
Lissycasey N SEnnis	18555V	167	+10.6%	+62.1%	7	22.14	32	1
Inchicronan Central NSCrusheen	19551S	158	+32.8%	+83.7%	6	26.33	30	1
Eidhneach N SInagh	14622N	150	+5.6%	+48.5%	6	23.00	27	0
Scariff Central N SScariff	19366A	142	−7.2%	−9.6%	6	22.67	26	0
Broadford & Kilbane National SchoolBroadford	20452A	136	+5.4%	–	6	21.67	31	1
Kilkishen N SEnnis	13870E	134	+12.6%	+20.7%	6	20.50	26	0
Scoil Realt na MaraKilkee	20078C	134	+116.1%	+1.5%	5	26.80	31	1
Miltown Malbay B N SMiltown Malbay	18720K	128	+43.8%	−3.8%	5	25.60	36	2
Kildysart N SKildysart	15301V	122	−23.3%	+9.9%	5	24.40	29	0
S N Dubh RathClarecastle	18696Q	113	+32.9%	+56.9%	4	25.25	28	0
Shannon Airport 1 N SShannon	18739I	113	−10.3%	+14.1%	5	20.40	25	0
S N Baile an DroichidO'Brien's Bridge	18467B	107	−14.4%	+20.2%	5	21.40	30	1
Inch N SEnnis	16186G	104	+9.5%	−14.8%	4	26.00	32	1
Killaloe Boys N SKillaloe	15370R	104	−10.3%	+5.1%	5	20.80	27	0
Scoil Mhuire NaisiuntaCorofin	18227E	102	−16.4%	−12.8%	4	25.50	28	0
Ogonnelloe National SchoolScariff	17563P	101	−9.8%	+3.1%	5	20.20	31	1
Stonehall N SNewmarket-on-Fergus	15350L	101	−1.9%	+12.2%	4	23.75	28	0
Mercy Convent KillaloeKillaloe	18624O	97	−2.0%	−4.9%	4	22.75	31	1
Kilmihil N.S.Kilmihil	13826B	96	+4.3%	−17.2%	4	22.50	26	0
Kilmaley N SEnnis	14468G	88	−30.7%	+6.0%	4	22.00	26	0
Kilnamona N SEnnis	13625O	85	−31.5%	+10.4%	4	21.25	28	0
Annagh N SMiltown Malbay	15221A	81	−3.6%	−1.2%	4	20.25	25	0
Kilnaboy N SEnnis	17832Q	80	−9.1%	+27.0%	4	20.00	24	0
Cooraclare B N SKilrush	17816S	78	−30.4%	−9.3%	4	19.50	23	0
Ruan Central NSEnnis	19442N	75	−31.8%	+7.1%	4	18.75	24	0
Toonagh N SEnnis	03898U	75	−38.5%	−2.6%	4	18.75	23	0
S N Inis CealtrachMountshannon	18109V	71	+18.3%	−25.3%	3	23.67	28	0
Gaelscoil Donncha RuaSionna	19849U	68	+4.6%	+23.6%	3	18.67	24	0
S N MhuireFeakle	02439G	68	−15.0%	−26.1%	3	22.67	27	0
Scoil MhichilKilrush	20434V	66	–	–	3	22.00	26	0
S N Cill MuireSixmilebridge	13942D	65	−51.9%	−40.9%	4	16.25	21	0
Doonbeg N SDoonbeg	11765U	63	+53.7%	+18.9%	3	19.00	24	0
Kilmurry McMahon National SchoolKilrush	20447H	63	+14.5%	–	3	21.00	27	0
Mullach N SEnnis	03928D	53	−14.5%	−5.4%	3	16.00	23	0
S N Baile na CailliEnnis	18639E	52	−37.3%	−42.9%	2	20.50	24	0
Quilty NSEnnis	17020A	49	+19.5%	+14.0%	2	24.50	25	0
Clooney N STulla	15279I	48	−52.9%	−28.4%	3	16.00	20	0
Lakyle N SWhitegate	15981A	47	−23.0%	+11.9%	3	15.67	24	0
Tomgraney N STuamgraney	14571W	47	−45.3%	−11.3%	3	15.67	18	0
Tubber N SVia Galway	10886E	40	+48.1%	+122.2%	2	20.00	21	0
Moveen N SKilkee	13876Q	39	−45.1%	−25.0%	3	13.00	16	0
St. Josephs National School CreeKilrush	20570G	38	–	–	3	12.67	15	0
S N Ma SheastaMoyasta	18565B	37	−35.1%	+37.0%	2	18.50	22	0
Flagmount Central NSCaher	19338S	35	−27.1%	−44.4%	2	17.50	20	0
Rineen N SMiltown Malbay	09425H	35	−31.4%	+75.0%	2	17.50	18	0
Ballycar N SNewmarket-on-Fergus	18526O	34	−2.9%	−38.2%	2	14.00	15	0
SN na CrannaigheKilrush	13804O	32	+52.4%	+33.3%	2	16.00	18	0
Carrigaholt Mixed N SKilrush	18630J	30	+7.1%	−11.8%	2	12.00	12	0
Coore National SchoolEnnis	20404M	30	–	–	3	10.00	15	0
Labasheeda Central N SKilrush	19386G	30	+11.1%	+50.0%	2	15.00	17	0
O Callaghans Mills N SO'Callaghan's Mills	05253H	29	−54.7%	−42.0%	2	14.50	15	0
S N Iosef NaofaAn Leacht	18339P	29	−9.4%	+31.8%	2	14.50	15	0
Bodyke N SBodyke	11990E	27	+17.4%	−12.9%	2	13.50	18	0
Connolly N SEnnis	15408Q	27	−35.7%	−61.4%	2	13.50	15	0
S N Chathair AodhaEnnis	18541K	27	−40.0%	−22.9%	2	13.50	19	0
Boston N STubber	10763L	24	+9.1%	0.0%	2	12.00	13	0
Dromindoora N.S.Feakle	18950E	23	−37.8%	0.0%	2	11.50	12	0
Rockmount Mixed N SMiltown Malbay	09390O	23	−46.5%	−51.1%	2	11.50	12	0
Clohanes N SMullagh	13730L	22	−48.8%	+15.8%	2	11.00	13	0
Doonaha N SKilkee	12848G	21	+31.2%	+31.2%	2	10.50	12	0
Coolmeen N SKilrush	12633I	20	+81.8%	−28.6%	2	10.00	12	0
S N Cluain an AthaInis	17246D	19	−26.9%	−48.6%	2	9.50	10	0
S N CuanKilrush	18359V	19	−55.8%	−47.2%	2	9.50	11	0
Burrane N SKilrush	13738E	17	−72.6%	−70.7%	2	8.50	10	0
S N Cnoc DoireKilrush	18327I	17	−32.0%	−50.0%	2	8.50	10	0
Scoil an Sraith S NDoonbeg	16930L	15	−42.3%	−34.8%	2	7.50	8	0
Bansha N SKilkee	11714D	7	−82.5%	−85.4%	1	7.00	7	0
Cluain DraigneachInis	18540I	5	−75.0%	−77.3%	2	2.50	3	0