Lissivigeen Mixed National School
School Details
Location
About
Lissivigeen Mixed National School is a co‑educational primary school located on the outskirts of Killarney, County Kerry, on the main Cork/Killarney road, approximately 4 km from the town centre. The school caters for around 270 pupils across junior and senior infants through to sixth class. It offers a broad curriculum supported by a range of specialist resources, including a dedicated special class for children with autism, a sensory room, and three full‑time Special Educational Needs Teaching (SET) posts. The learning environment is enhanced by eleven mainstream classrooms, an additional multi‑purpose room, a large hall, an all‑weather football pitch and three playgrounds, providing ample space for both academic and recreational activities. The school places a strong emphasis on inclusive education and the holistic development of its pupils. Uniform is required from second to sixth class, promoting a sense of community, while younger children wear the school tracksuit. Structured school times run from 8:50 am to 1:30 pm for junior and senior infants and to 2:30 pm for older classes, with two daily break periods. A range of extra‑curricular provisions are available, including an After‑School and Homework Club, as well as the BrookView After‑School Childcare service, supporting families with flexible care options.
History
Education in the Lissivigeen area dates back to the 18th‑century hedgeschools that served Catholic children during the Penal Laws. The first official school was built in 1861 at Lissivigeen Cross by Lord Kenmane, initially accommodating 140 pupils in a modest building. Over the decades the school evolved, with the boys’ and girls’ sections amalgamated in 1931. A new four‑teacher school opened in 1968, and further expansion saw the school move to Brú na Páirce in 2005 for a €2.2 million refurbishment. In September 2006 the modernised facility opened, featuring eight classrooms, two resource rooms, a library/computer room, a P.E. hall and an all‑weather pitch. Subsequent principals have continued to develop the school’s reputation for providing a high‑quality, inclusive education.