St John Of God National School
School Details
Location
About
St. John of God National School is a girls’ primary school situated on Upper New Street in the heart of Kilkenny City. The school follows a child‑centred curriculum that seeks to nurture each pupil’s unique potential while promoting health, happiness and a love of learning. Classes run from 9:00 am to 1:50 pm for Junior and Senior Infants and until 2:50 pm for First to Sixth Class, providing a structured yet flexible day for students. The campus comprises fifteen modern classrooms, a spacious staffroom, offices and storage facilities, together with a splendid hall that hosts performances and community events. Outdoor amenities include a large playground with a basketball court, a school garden, and access to the nearby Parish Field on Coote’s Lane for Gaelic football, camogie and other physical‑education activities. A recent extension added three new classrooms and a front lobby, further enhancing the learning environment.
History
The St John of God Sisters arrived in Kilkenny in 1886, establishing their first school on Jacob Street before acquiring the present site from the Christian Brothers the following year. Early wooden structures housing two classrooms and a cookery room were later replaced; the original buildings were demolished in the 1940s and a main block erected. In 1969 a five‑classroom extension with an assembly hall and administrative rooms was added, officially opened in 1971, bringing the total to thirteen classrooms. A double pre‑fab was installed in 1984 to meet rising enrolment, and between 2014 and 2017 it was replaced by a permanent structure containing three new classrooms and a front lobby.