Primary Schools

Tipperary ETB is the Patron of Nenagh Community National School, the county’s only multi-denominational and co-educational primary school. We are also Patron of Coláiste Shliabh na mBan, a high-support primary school for students with an identified Special Educational Need or whose diverse needs have not been met in mainstream education.

We are committed to growing the presence of Community National Schools across Tipperary, offering a greater choice of education for young children and their parents.

Mary Hanna at Nenagh Community National School

Policies and information

Data and Records Retention Schedules

Nenagh Community National School (CNS)

Nenagh CNS on St Flannan Street is a multi-denominational and co-educational school, providing primary education to children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.

The Diocese of Killaloe reconfigured St Mary’s Junior Boys’ National School to the Patronage and management of Tipperary ETB in August 2022, and it was officially opened by the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, in January 2023.

After 108 years providing excellence and innovation as a denominational school under the patronage of the Diocese of Killaloe, the school is now providing primary education from Junior Infants to Fourth Class, under the patronage of Tipperary ETB.

The 2026/27 academic year will see the school provide for all eight years of primary as it gradually grows to a full vertical and co-educational school providing choice for the parents and community in the Nenagh area.

The CNS model has been developed in response to increasing diversity in Irish society, and a growing demand from parents for the provision of multi-denominational education. Nenagh CNS is part of a pilot divestment project, the lessons from which will inform future projects.

Contact Nenagh CNS

Principal: Conor D’Arcy

St Flannan Street, Nenagh, Tipperary. E45 W880

www.nenaghcns.ie

[email protected]

067 32005

Coláiste Shliabh na mBan

Coláiste Shliabh na mBan is a high-support primary school for students with a clearly identified Special Education Need, or those whose diverse needs have not been met in mainstream education.

Our Mission Statement is, “To provide a positive child-centred education based on care and respect for each person in the community.” The school operates a low pupil-teacher ratio, access to a range of support programmes, hot meals, a wide range of subjects, and excellent facilities.

Coláiste Shliabh na mBan is moving to a new form of education provision based on the model of a ‘Youth Encounter Project’. The school will have one class of students, with a maximum of six young people.

This class will include young people in the equivalent of Sixth Class in mainstream primary school. They willl stay at the school for a four-year cycle, when they will complete their Junior Cert.

The school follows the standard primary school timetable and academic year, running from 9.30am-3pm (Monday-Thursday), and 9.30am-1pm (Friday).

Contact Coláiste Shliabh na mBan

Principal: Ms Paula O’Halloran

Deputy Principal: Mr David O’Brien

Ferryhouse, Clonmel, Tipperary. E91 RF38

052 618 3000

Community National Schools

Community National Schools (CNS) are State, co-educational, multi-denominational primary schools underpinned by five core values: Excellence, Care, Equality, Community and Respect.

CNSs are under the patronage of Education and Training Boards (ETBs), including Tipperary ETB. These schools give equal opportunities to all children in the communities they serve, and strive to provide high quality education through respectful, positive, supportive and responsive learning environments.

Woman speaking at a microphone with three people sitting listening

The Benefits

Community National Schools are publicly funded and publicly managed.
A primary school that recognises and celebrates the identity of all children equally.
Strives to provide all students with equal opportunities to engage with the curriculum and school life.
Our schools provide a safe physical and social environment that reinforces a sense of belonging to the school community and wider society.
They strive to enable every student to realise their full potential regardless of any aspect of their identity or background.
Our schools promote a fully inclusive education that recognises the plurality of identities, beliefs and values held by students, parents and staff.

Group of young children in Nenagh Community National School uniform with adults in the background

Like all primary schools in Ireland, Community National Schools follow the Primary School Curriculum. As CNSs have a multi-denominational ethos, children also engage in a multi-belief and values education curriculum, Goodness Me, Goodness You! (GMGY).

New Community National Schools

Community National Schools open in new communities through one of two processes:

The establishment of a new school in areas of demographic growth,
The transfer of existing school patronage from another patron body to the local ETB.

The Department of Education (DE) decides where and when new schools are needed in areas of demographic growth. Parents who are eligible are asked to express their preference for the type of school they would like to be established through an Online Patronage Process System. If the majority of parents express their preference for a Community National School through this process, a CNS will be established in their area. For information on upcoming patronage competitions visit https://patronage.education.gov.ie/

Parents and local community members can support Community National Schools in upcoming patronage determination processes by expressing their interest on the CNS website – www.cns.ie

In communities where there is an interest in opening a CNS, but the establishment of a new primary school is not feasible, an existing school in the area may transfer patronage to the local ETB.

Where another patron, school or local community wishes to explore this option, they should visit the CNS Website https://cns.ie/becoming-a-cns/ and review the ETBI publication Becoming a CNS as well as contact their local ETB for more information.

More Information

https://cns.ie/