School patron in Kilkenny

Bishop of Ossory

Schools in County Kilkenny under this patron.

Other patrons in Kilkenny Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin · 5 Not reported · 2 Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory COI · 2 Kilkenny School Project · 1

Schools: 58; of 68 in Kilkenny
Pupils: 8,849; 84% of Kilkenny's pupils
Average school size: 152.6; Kilkenny: 154.2
Average class size: 22.62; Kilkenny: 22.53

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

56 schools with figures for both years

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

21fell by 10% or more

24within 10%

11grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 10Down 10 to 25% · 11Within 10% · 24Up 10 to 25% · 3Up 25% or more · 8

Average class size in these schools went from 25.5 in 2015/16 to 22.6 in 2025/26. 13 of the 21 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

2 schools still filling their classes in 2015/16 or opened since, with 424 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

Scoil MhuireMooncoin · figures start 2016/17 261
Ballyragget National SchoolBallyragget · figures start 2018/19 163

Class sizes

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

Average class size: 22.62
Mainstream classes: 381
Classes of 30 or more: 23
Schools with a class of 30+: 15

Teachers

Teachers in the 58 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: 381; Up 116 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 33%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 581; Estimate: 381 class teachers, 27 principals and deputies, 134 special education and 39 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 458; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 3 / 6; 3 schools gained a class teacher, 6 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

What parents would prefer

2,287 of the 5,714 households with children at the 56 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: 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: 18%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex: 3%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 5%

13 schools where half or more of parents would prefer a multi-denominational patron
7 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

58 schools, largest first.

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
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
Scoil an Chroí Ró-Naofavia Thurles	19930D	223	−5.9%	+6.7%	9	24.11	31	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
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
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
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
Holycross N.S.Castlecomer	18643S	72	−24.2%	+18.0%	4	18.00	22	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
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