Kilkenny

Name: Primary schools in County Kilkenny, 2025/26
Creator: Department of Education

68 primary schools and 10,483 pupils in 2025/26.

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Pupils in 2025/26: 10,483; −172 on 2024/25
Schools: 68; −2 on 2024/25
Average school size: 154.2; +2.0 on 2024/25
Average class size: 22.53; −0.29 on 2024/25

Trends in Kilkenny

Counts every school that reported in each year, including schools that have since closed. Dotted lines bridge 1983/84 to 1992/93. 1974/75 is left out because that year's source file is missing five counties.

Pupils

10,483

−172 on 2024/25

1975/762025/26

Schools

81 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average pupils per school

154.2

130.5 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average class size

22.53

−0.29 on 2024/25

2006/072025/26

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

64 schools with figures for both years

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

25fell by 10% or more

27within 10%

12grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 10Down 10 to 25% · 15Within 10% · 27Up 10 to 25% · 4Up 25% or more · 8

Average class size in these schools went from 25.6 in 2015/16 to 22.6 in 2025/26. 17 of the 25 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 Naomh IosephJenkinstown, Co. Kilkenny 67 → 127 +89.6%
2 S N Chiaran NaofaStoneyford, Co. Kilkenny 95 → 142 +49.5%
3 Scoil Iognaid de RisKilkenny, Co. Kilkenny 208 → 278 +33.7%
4 Lisdowney N SBallyragget, Co. Kilkenny 75 → 96 +28.0%
5 Scoil Mholainge Listerlinvia Waterford, Co. Kilkenny 116 → 148 +27.6%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 Templeorum N Svia Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Kilkenny 67 → 38 −43.3%
2 Burnchurch National SchoolCuffesgrange Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny 72 → 44 −38.9%
3 Clontubrid Mixed N SFreshford, Co. Kilkenny 63 → 43 −31.7%
4 The Rower Mixed N SThomastown, Co. Kilkenny 167 → 115 −31.1%
5 S N CholmcilleInistioge, Co. Kilkenny 145 → 104 −28.3%

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

4 schools still filling their classes in 2015/16 or opened since, with 986 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

St. John's National SchoolKilkenny · figures start 2025/26 441
Scoil MhuireMooncoin · figures start 2016/17 261
Ballyragget National SchoolBallyragget · figures start 2018/19 163
Scoil ÍosagáinCastlecomer · figures start 2025/26 121

Break Kilkenny down

Select a group to see its schools, pupils and class sizes.

Planning areas

Change over


Kilkenny	18	4,626	257.0	23.63	190	+2.5%	+17.3%
Castlecomer	12	1,021	85.1	20.47	49	+2.9%	+4.4%
Callan	5	772	154.4	22.18	34	+0.8%	+149.0%
Ballyhale	7	734	104.9	21.82	33	−0.1%	+28.8%
Waterford	6	732	122.0	21.85	33	−7.1%	+45.8%
Thomastown	2	502	251.0	22.59	22	−17.0%	+295.3%
Johnstown	5	417	83.4	20.55	20	−4.4%	+2.2%
Carrick-on-Suir	3	392	130.7	22.35	17	−20.8%	+1.3%
Mooncoin	2	384	192.0	22.56	16	+134.1%	+291.8%
New Ross	3	317	105.7	22.29	14	−7.6%	+44.7%
Bagenalstown	1	217	217.0	26.38	8	−7.7%	+36.5%
Graignamanagh	2	216	108.0	21.67	9	−12.9%	−5.7%
Borris	2	153	76.5	19.12	8	−21.5%	−26.8%

Changes count today's schools and any that closed from 2023/24; earlier closures aren't in any planning area, so changes run high, more so since 2005/06. Known data issues · All planning areas in Ireland

Patrons


Bishop of Ossory	58	8,849	152.6	22.62	381
Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin	5	586	117.2	22.36	25
(Not reported)	2	562	281.0	20.15	27
Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory COI	2	250	125.0	22.73	11
Kilkenny School Project	1	236	236.0	26.22	9

Local authorities


Kilkenny County Council	68	10,483	154.2	22.53	453

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to. Figures for 2025/26: 10,207 pupils in mainstream classes.

Average class size: 22.53
Mainstream classes: 453
Largest class: 35
Classes of 30 or more: 24
Schools with a class of 30+: 16

Teachers

Teachers in the 68 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: 453; Up 72 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 9%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 694; Estimate: 453 class teachers, 32 principals and deputies, 162 special education and 47 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 578; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 3 / 7; 3 schools gained a class teacher, 7 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

Special schools and special classes

5 special schools in Kilkenny, and the special classes in its 68 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.

All special schools

Pupils in special schools: 273; In 5 schools, up from 242 in 2015/16
Special classes in 2025/26: 47; In 27 of 68 schools. 20 in 2020/21
Allocated for 2026/27: 55; In 28 schools: 8 new classes, 1 school with its first
Autism classes: 40; 85% of special classes

Special classes since 2020/21

In Kilkenny's mainstream schools, from the NCSE's yearly lists

2020/21 20
2021/22 22
2022/23 25
2023/24 29
2024/25 37
2025/26 47
2026/27 55

2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.

Special schools in Kilkenny
Special school	Pupils	Since 2015/16	Teaching posts	SNAs
St Patricks Spec SCHKilkenny · Moderate general learning disability	91	+23.0%	17	37
School of the Holy Spirit Special SchoolKilkenny · Emotional and behavioural difficulties	83	+7.8%	14	32
Mother of Fair Love Spec SchoolKilkenny · Mild general learning disability	75	+44.2%	10	17
Jonah Special SchoolSlieverue · Autism	12	–	2	7
Saplings Special SchoolGoresbridge · Autism	12	–	2	9

Sources: Department of Education enrolment lists; NCSE special class lists and special school allocations (CC BY 4.0).

What parents would prefer

2,728 of the 6,880 households with children at the 66 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 2 more schools had too few answers for their own results. These are preferences, not applications.

About these figures

The Department's own results: School reports for Co. Kilkenny (PDF)Interactive map Summary report with county figures (PDF)

Prefer a multi-denominational patron: 42%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish: 18%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex: 3%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 5%

By school planning area

The Department publishes the answers of parents of children not yet at school by planning area only, so these are whole areas, including any part in another county.

Compare all 314 areas

Share of parents who would prefer each, by planning area, for children at school and not yet at school
Planning area	Schools here	Households answered	Multi-denominational		Through Irish		Single-sex
Planning area	Schools here	Households answered	At school	Not yet	At school	Not yet	At school	Not yet
Kilkenny	18	1,654 (42%)	48%	49%	22%	24%	6%	8%
Castlecomer	12	328 (42%)	32%	35%	14%	27%	0%	3%
Ballyhale	7	229 (44%)	40%	45%	14%	25%	1%	5%
WaterfordAlso in Co. Waterford	6	2,800 (39%)	49%	51%	13%	20%	15%	17%
CallanAlso in Co. Tipperary	5	374 (44%)	39%	37%	16%	20%	0%	6%
JohnstownAlso in Co. Tipperary	5	209 (43%)	38%	39%	13%	24%	0%	0%
Carrick-on-SuirAlso in Co. Tipperary, Co. Waterford	3	610 (37%)	39%	45%	19%	30%	5%	6%
New RossAlso in Co. Wexford	3	651 (38%)	38%	42%	14%	27%	2%	2%
BorrisAlso in Co. Carlow	2	211 (46%)	32%	46%	14%	19%	1%	0%
GraignamanaghAlso in Co. Carlow	2	149 (45%)	40%	57%	19%	20%	7%	0%
Mooncoin	2	203 (52%)	33%	42%	22%	19%	1%	14%
Thomastown	2	261 (46%)	50%	46%	16%	31%	2%	2%
BagenalstownAlso in Co. Carlow	1	569 (48%)	33%	34%	19%	20%	4%	7%

Grey: fewer than 60 parents of children not yet at school answered in that area, so a handful of answers moves the figure a long way.

Each count opens those schools in Find schools, with each school's figures.

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 in Kilkenny

68 schools with 2025/26 figures, largest first.

Every school in Kilkenny (CSV)

Change over

Select a column heading to sort

	Roll number
St Canices Central N SKilkenny	19626A	648	−1.2%	+24.4%	24	26.25	30	1
St. John's National SchoolKilkenny	20600M	441	–	–	20	21.15	28	0
Gaelscoil OsraiCill Chainnigh	19856R	438	+0.5%	+8.7%	18	24.00	29	0
Bunscoil McAuley RiceCallan	20255V	406	+6.8%	–	17	23.53	28	0
Scoil MhuireKilkenny	19925K	400	−7.0%	+0.3%	17	22.53	29	0
St Mary's National SchoolThomastown	20272V	398	−13.5%	–	17	23.12	29	0
S N Padraig NaofaKilkenny	17854D	331	−4.3%	+0.9%	14	22.36	28	0
Scoil Naomh Eoin DeaKilkenny	17314R	330	−2.1%	−4.3%	14	23.57	32	2
Scoil Iognaid de RisKilkenny	17867M	278	+33.7%	+56.2%	11	24.73	32	1
Scoil MhuireMooncoin	20492M	261	–	–	11	22.64	32	2
S N Baile an PhiullPiltown	17357M	254	−23.5%	+13.9%	11	22.00	27	0
Kilkenny School ProjectKilkenny	19905E	236	−1.3%	+1.3%	9	26.22	28	0
Scoil an Chroí Ró-Naofavia Thurles	19930D	223	−5.9%	+6.7%	9	24.11	31	1
Scoil Bhride B7CKilkenny	18078N	217	−7.7%	+36.5%	8	26.38	30	1
Slieverue Mixed N SSlieverue	12476S	208	−4.6%	+3.0%	9	23.11	30	2
Bennettsbridge National SchoolKilkenny	16406R	206	+6.7%	+23.4%	8	25.75	30	1
S N Naomh ColmainClara	16116I	204	−6.0%	+8.5%	8	24.75	29	0
S N Naomh Padraighvia Waterford	16875G	202	+3.1%	+143.4%	8	25.25	28	0
Scoil LachtainFreshford	00796U	201	+6.3%	+24.8%	8	22.88	31	1
Kilkenny Mixed N SKilkenny	17218V	198	+20.0%	+19.3%	8	24.75	28	0
S N MuireGowran	18064C	197	−25.4%	+5.3%	8	23.12	27	0
Church Hill Mixed N SCuffesgrange	05927L	192	+20.0%	+146.2%	8	22.50	25	0
S N Bhreandain NaofaBallyfoyle	17093E	192	−12.3%	+39.1%	8	24.00	27	0
St. Senan's National SchoolVia Waterford	20443W	176	−9.3%	–	7	25.14	31	2
St Aidans N SKilmanagh	19344N	175	−5.9%	+8.7%	7	25.00	34	3
St Beacons N SMullinavat	19976E	175	−11.2%	+19.9%	7	25.00	33	2
S N Naomh Padraig MXDBaile Haol	17628R	173	−2.8%	+33.1%	7	24.71	35	2
Ballyragget National SchoolBallyragget	20506U	163	–	–	6	25.17	30	1
S N Muire gan SmalGraigenamanagh	17224Q	148	−8.6%	−6.9%	6	21.67	25	0
Scoil Mholainge Listerlinvia Waterford	18748J	148	+27.6%	+111.4%	6	24.67	29	0
S N Chiaran NaofaStoneyford	17589K	142	+49.5%	+86.8%	6	21.33	26	0
S N an Moinin RuaCastlecomer	16204F	127	+25.7%	+28.3%	5	25.40	33	1
Scoil Naomh IosephJenkinstown	18607O	127	+89.6%	+149.0%	5	24.20	35	1
Carigeen N SCarrigeen	15340I	123	−25.0%	+25.5%	5	22.40	26	0
Scoil ÍosagáinCastlecomer	20591O	121	–	–	7	17.29	26	0
S N San NioclasWindgap	18660S	120	+16.5%	+44.6%	5	22.80	27	0
Scoil San LionardDunnamaggin	16827S	115	−9.4%	+30.7%	5	23.00	27	0
The Rower Mixed N SThomastown	15160G	115	−31.1%	−1.7%	5	22.00	24	0
S N CholmcilleInistioge	17073V	104	−28.3%	−18.1%	5	20.80	24	0
Owning National SchoolPiltown	16430O	100	+4.2%	+6.4%	4	25.00	26	0
Lisdowney N SBallyragget	00788V	96	+28.0%	+68.4%	4	22.50	27	0
S N Seamus NaofaGlenmore	18158L	91	−27.8%	−28.9%	4	20.00	24	0
S N Tulach RuainTullaroan	18670V	91	+1.1%	−15.0%	4	22.75	24	0
S N Naomh ChiarainJohnstown	17339K	90	+8.4%	−4.3%	4	22.50	27	0
Skeaghvastheen N SSkeaghvasteen	16140F	85	−20.6%	+3.7%	4	21.25	24	0
Holycross N.S.Castlecomer	18643S	72	−24.2%	+18.0%	4	18.00	22	0
Goresbridge N.S.Goresbridge	19944O	68	−22.7%	−46.5%	4	17.00	25	0
Graig na Manach BuacGraignamanagh	16311G	68	−20.9%	−2.9%	3	21.67	26	0
St Michaels National SchoolDanesfort	01300Q	63	+34.0%	+142.3%	3	21.00	22	0
S N Mhichil NaofaGalmoy (via Thurles)	17222M	62	0.0%	+8.8%	3	20.67	27	0
St Patricks NSCastlecomer	16445E	57	−24.0%	−55.5%	3	19.00	27	0
S N Moin Ruadh MixedKnocktopher	17590S	56	0.0%	+64.7%	3	18.67	23	0
S N Baile an Fhasaighvia New Ross	18257N	54	−10.0%	+68.8%	3	18.00	24	0
Wandesforde Mixed N SCastlecomer	14476F	52	−23.5%	+4.0%	3	17.33	19	0
St Brendans Mixed N SHuggsintown	16485Q	50	−12.3%	−23.1%	3	16.67	20	0
S N BhrighdeCarlow	17174E	46	−8.0%	−8.0%	3	15.33	19	0
S N Tobair Eoin BaisdeJohnswell	17905R	45	−18.2%	−10.0%	3	15.00	20	0
Burnchurch National SchoolCuffesgrange Kilkenny	17675D	44	−38.9%	+18.9%	3	12.67	17	0
Clontubrid Mixed N SFreshford	16865D	43	−31.7%	−14.0%	2	21.50	26	0
Templeorum N Svia Carrick-on-Suir	19267V	38	−43.3%	−45.7%	2	19.00	23	0
Ringville National Schoolvia Waterford	06621P	35	−20.5%	−40.7%	3	11.67	16	0
S N LisnafunchinCastlecomer	16230G	32	−33.3%	−8.6%	2	16.00	18	0
S N Chrion Choillvia Thurles	17374M	28	+12.0%	+16.7%	2	14.00	18	0
S N BhridheKells	17566V	27	+8.0%	−6.9%	2	13.50	16	0
Kilmoganny Mixed N SKilmoganny	07481H	23	−8.0%	−25.8%	2	11.50	13	0
Colmcille Mixed N SMullinavat	17911M	20	+100.0%	−33.3%	2	10.00	12	0
S N ColmainJenkinstown	17200C	20	−13.0%	−28.6%	2	10.00	13	0
Scoil Mhichil NaofaJohnstown	17758H	14	−51.7%	−41.7%	2	7.00	8	0