Camross National School
School Details
Location
About
Camross National School is a vibrant primary school nestled at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the picturesque village of Camross, County Laois. Serving as a focal point for the local community, the school provides a welcoming environment where children from the surrounding rural area can thrive academically and socially. The curriculum is delivered in small, mixed‑age classes that promote personalised learning, with dedicated Learning Support rooms to cater for a range of educational needs and ensure inclusive practice. The school’s facilities include five mainstream classrooms, two specialist Learning Support rooms, a staff room, an office and a modest library, all of which are attached to the local Parish Hall and the newer Community Hall. These spaces enable a broad programme of extracurricular activities, from sports and arts to digital learning, and support the school’s emphasis on community involvement, wellbeing and the development of confident, curious learners.
History
The first National School in Camross was erected beside St Kevin’s Church in the mid‑19th century; the original building now serves as the GAA Hall after a 1980s renovation. The present school opened on 21 November 1909 on its current site, initially comprising two 20 ft × 20 ft classrooms with separate cloakrooms and external toilets, accommodating 74 pupils. By the 1940s enrolment exceeded 100, and in the 1960s the school merged with Clonin, prompting a rebuild. While the new building was under construction in 1965, lessons were held in the hall; the new premises opened in 1966 under Principal Maurice Healy. Prefabricated accommodation was used for younger children until the early 1990s when a permanent room was added. Subsequent development phases have expanded the school, attaching it to a modern Community Hall, and as of 16 March 2021 the campus comprises five mainstream classrooms, two Learning Support rooms, a staff room, an office and a small library, serving 136 pupils.