Murhur National School
School Details
Location
About
Murhur National School is a co‑educational, Catholic primary school situated in Moyvane, Co. Kerry. It provides a well‑ordered, caring and secure environment that nurtures the spiritual, intellectual, physical, moral and cultural development of its pupils. The school follows a child‑centred approach, encouraging curiosity and creativity through a balanced programme that includes daily morning meetings, a strong STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) curriculum, regular physical activity such as yoga, and a rich musical offering. The school operates three classrooms: a Junior room for Junior and Senior Infants, a Senior room for Third, Fourth and Fifth classes, and a mixed classroom for Sixth class. Staffing comprises three classroom teachers and a Special Educational Needs Teaching assistant, with plans to expand to a four‑teacher model. Facilities are modest but purpose‑built for a small local community, supporting a wide range of extracurricular activities that reflect the school’s ambition to deliver “education is fun first” and to prepare children for lifelong learning.
History
Education in Moyvane began in 1818 when the Kildare Place Society opened a pay‑and‑free school under master Michael Keane. The school grew rapidly, reaching over 115 pupils by 1819 and becoming a National School in 1833 after a brief period under the Society’s auspices. A severe storm in 1839 damaged the original building, leading to a rebuilt one‑room school in 1843. The present Murhur National School was originally constructed in 1888 as separate boys’ and girls’ schools, later amalgamated after a series of principal appointments and a typhoid outbreak in 1898. In 1969 the three local schools (Murhur Boys, Murhur Girls and Kilbaha) merged under a single principal, and the historic 1888 premises were closed in 1975 when the current Moyvane site opened. Since then the school has continued to serve the community, expanding its facilities and curriculum while retaining its Catholic ethos.