Leamlara Mixed National School
School Details
Location
About
Bishop Ahern National School is a mixed, Catholic‑ethos primary school situated in Leamlara, East Cork, catering for a growing community of around 163 pupils. The school delivers a holistic curriculum that seeks the full intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual development of each child, while welcoming families of all faiths and backgrounds. Contemporary teaching methodologies such as Aistear, station teaching in English and maths, team teaching and the Irish‑language programme *Mata sa Rang* are embedded in daily practice, and a strong emphasis is placed on inclusive education through dedicated learning‑support and resource rooms. The campus features bright, spacious classrooms equipped with class libraries, interactive whiteboards and internet access. A large multipurpose hall supports physical education, dance, drama and assemblies, while well‑maintained yards and a pitch provide safe, child‑centred outdoor play areas. All pupils from second to sixth class take part in swimming lessons each year, and the school actively participates in GAA competitions, having earned the *Gradam Gaisce* flag for its promotion of sport. As a Green School, the community is working towards a second green flag, reflecting its commitment to environmental stewardship.
History
Leamlara Old School was erected in 1847 as part of the Famine Relief scheme and operated until 1967. Adjacent to it, the Teacher’s House was built in 1905 for the principal teacher. When the original school closed, a prefabricated building was erected on the present site in 1967, providing indoor toilets and two classrooms. In 1987 the new Bishop Ahern National School was constructed above the prefab location, officially opening in 1988 with 96 pupils. Subsequent extensions added a fifth classroom and assembly hall in 2010, two resource rooms in 2013, a sixth classroom in 2015, and a sensory room, kitchen and seventh classroom in 2019. By 2022 the roll had risen to 163 pupils, and as of September 2024 the school employs 21 staff members, including seven mainstream teachers and a dedicated inclusion team.