Scoil Realt Na Mara
School Details
Location
About
Scoil Réalt na Mara is a vibrant primary school serving the community of Cromane, County Kerry. The school provides a welcoming, inclusive environment where pupils from junior infants to sixth class benefit from a balanced curriculum that nurtures both academic achievement and personal development. Emphasis is placed on fostering a love of learning through a blend of traditional subjects and contemporary approaches, with particular attention to Irish language and cultural heritage. The campus has evolved into a modern educational centre. Recent extensions have added specialist spaces including a learning support room, accessible bathroom, medical room and a well‑stocked library. A purpose‑built hall and dedicated play facilities support a wide range of extracurricular activities. The school also operates two Autism classes and is preparing a multi‑million‑euro SEN building featuring sensory play areas, a garden, quiet rooms and daily‑living skills facilities, underscoring its commitment to meeting diverse learner needs. Strong ties with families and the wider community are central to the school’s ethos. Regular communication, community events and collaborative projects ensure that parents and guardians are active partners in each child’s educational journey.
History
The first school in Cromane was established in 1868 in a one‑roomed building known locally as “Cotcher’s School”. In 1886, Fr Thomas Lawler oversaw the construction of Cromane National School, a stone building with four classrooms that taught boys and girls separately until 1967. A new site at Lonhart opened in 1986 as Scoil Réalt na Mara (“Star of the Sea”), replacing the century‑old structure and providing three classrooms, a teachers’ room, utility room, purpose hall and play areas. A two‑classroom extension in 2006 expanded facilities to include a library, learning support room and accessible amenities. Further development saw an additional mainstream classroom opened in December 2022, and plans are underway for a purpose‑built SEN building to house the school’s autism classes and specialised support spaces.