S N NAOMH PADRAIGH
School Details
About
St Patrick’s National School, Strangsmills is a Catholic, co‑educational primary school serving the rural community of Kilmacow, South Kilkenny. The school provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where children of all religions, needs and abilities are encouraged to develop their intellectual, physical, social, emotional and spiritual potential. Learning is centred on strong relationships between pupils and staff, with an emphasis on personalised support and a caring ethos that underpins everyday classroom practice. The school operates eight single mainstream classrooms together with three dedicated Special Education rooms, a staff room and offices for the principal and secretary. Access to the local community hall expands facilities for physical education, drama, assemblies, Mass and other extracurricular activities. Additional support is offered through three Special Education teachers and three Special Needs Assistants, and the school benefits from two bus services and links to after‑school programmes such as Little Sunshines and Bumblebees. The timetable runs from 9.00 am, with a short break at 11.00 am, lunch at 12.35 pm and staggered finish times for junior and senior classes.
History
The first school in the parish of Kilmacow was erected in 1834 in the neighbouring townland of Dunkitt, a two‑storey limestone building that housed separate classrooms for boys and girls. It operated until 1931 when it was superseded by the present St Patrick’s National School, opened on its current site with fifty boys and fifty girls enrolled. Since then pupil numbers have fluctuated; the school now educates 202 children across eight mainstream classrooms, three Special Education rooms and utilises the local community hall for a range of activities.