School Numbers
Menu
Find schools Counties Irish-medium Special schools About the data

Clare

109 primary schools and 12,914 pupils in 2025/26.

Pupils in 2025/26
12,914
−218 on 2024/25
Schools
109
No change on 2024/25
Average school size
118.5
−2.0 on 2024/25
Average class size
21.09
−0.10 on 2024/25

Counts every school that reported in each year, including schools that have since closed. Dotted lines bridge 1983/84 to 1992/93. 1974/75 is left out because that year's source file is missing five counties.

Pupils

12,914

−218 on 2024/25

1975/762025/26

Schools

109

122 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average pupils per school

118.5

103.9 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average class size

21.09

−0.10 on 2024/25

2006/072025/26

Growing and falling since 2015/16

Each school's change in pupils over 10 years, from 2015/16 to 2025/26. A change of 10% or more either way counts as growing or falling.

Every school's change

106 schools with figures for both years

Schools still filling their classes in 2015/16, and schools opened since, are listed separately.

47fell by 10% or more
31within 10%
28grew by 10% or more
Down 25% or more · 31Down 10 to 25% · 16Within 10% · 31Up 10 to 25% · 14Up 25% or more · 14

Grown most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 Scoil Realt na MaraKilkee, Co. Clare 62 → 134 +116.1%
  2. 2 Ennis Educate Together NSEnnis, Co. Clare 93 → 144 +54.8%
  3. 3 S N LiosceanuirLiscannor, Co. Clare 68 → 105 +54.4%
  4. 4 Miltown Malbay B N SMiltown Malbay, Co. Clare 89 → 128 +43.8%
  5. 5 S N Cluain MuingeNewmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare 150 → 205 +36.7%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 Burrane N SKilrush, Co. Clare 62 → 17 −72.6%
  2. 2 O Callaghans Mills N SO'Callaghan's Mills, Co. Clare 64 → 29 −54.7%
  3. 3 Clooney N STulla, Co. Clare 102 → 48 −52.9%
  4. 4 S N Cill MuireSixmilebridge, Co. Clare 135 → 65 −51.9%
  5. 5 Tomgraney N STuamgraney, Co. Clare 86 → 47 −45.3%

Ranked by percentage change. Only schools with 50 or more pupils in 2015/16 are ranked, leaving out any still filling their classes then, because a few pupils make a big percentage in a small or new school. An amalgamation or a new school nearby can also explain a big rise or fall.

Newer schools

3 schools still filling their classes in 2015/16 or opened since, with 134 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

Break Clare down

Select a group to see its schools, pupils and class sizes.

Planning areas

Change over
Ennis 25 5,327 213.1 22.64 229
−1.4%
Shannon 14 2,526 180.4 22.17 109
−8.0%
Ennistymon 10 745 74.5 19.10 39
−0.4%
Limerick City 3 677 225.7 24.63 27
−20.5%
Scariff 9 640 71.1 20.26 31
−12.0%
Kilrush 7 554 79.1 16.94 32
−15.7%
Tulla 3 424 141.3 22.89 18
−11.5%
Spanish Point 8 410 51.2 18.41 22
−6.6%
Lisdoonvarna 5 318 63.6 17.39 18
+15.6%
Kilkee 7 313 44.7 16.72 18
+4.0%
Killaloe 3 308 102.7 21.57 14
−9.4%
Kilmihill 5 293 58.6 17.94 16
+40.9%
Kildysart–Cahercon 6 261 43.5 16.67 15
−18.7%
Gort 3 87 29.0 14.50 6
+1.2%
Kinvara 1 31 31.0 15.50 2
+34.8%

Change since 2015/16 counts today's schools and any that closed from 2023/24; earlier closures aren't in any planning area. All planning areas in Ireland

Patrons
Bishop of Killaloe 88 10,892 123.8 21.30 498
Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora 13 827 63.6 18.27 45
Bishop of Limerick 3 679 226.3 23.43 28
Limerick & Clare ETB 2 260 130.0 21.17 12
Educate Together 1 144 144.0 22.00 6
An Foras Pátrúnachta 1 61 61.0 15.25 4
Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert COI 1 51 51.0 13.00 3

Local authorities
Clare County Council 109 12,914 118.5 21.09 596

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to. Figures for 2025/26: 12,569 pupils in mainstream classes.

Average class size
21.09
Mainstream classes
596
Largest class
36
Classes of 30 or more
37
Schools with a class of 30+
23

Teachers

Teachers in the 109 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.

How we count teachers
Class teachers in 2025/26
596
Up 78 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 4%
Teaching posts in 2025/26
about 940
Estimate: 596 class teachers, 34 principals and deputies, 252 special education and 58 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16
827
The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25
5 / 14
5 schools gained a class teacher, 14 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

Special schools and special classes

2 special schools in Clare, and the special classes in its 109 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.

All special schools
Pupils in special schools
249
In 2 schools, up from 162 in 2015/16
Special classes in 2025/26
58
In 39 of 109 schools. 32 in 2020/21
Allocated for 2026/27
63
In 39 schools: 6 new classes, 1 school with its first
Autism classes
50
86% of special classes

Special classes since 2020/21

In Clare's mainstream schools, from the NCSE's yearly lists

  • 2020/21 32
  • 2021/22 43
  • 2022/23 45
  • 2023/24 49
  • 2024/25 55
  • 2025/26 58
  • 2026/27 63

2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.

Special school Pupils Since 2015/16 Teaching posts SNAs
St Annes S SEnnis · Mild general learning disability 142
+40.6%
22 40.99
St Clares Special SCHEnnis · Moderate general learning disability 107
+75.4%
18 37.83

Sources: Department of Education enrolment lists; NCSE special class lists and special school allocations (CC BY 4.0).

Schools in Clare

109 schools with 2025/26 figures, largest first.

Every school in Clare (CSV)
Change over

Select a column heading to sort

Roll number
Bunscoil na mBraithreEnnis 16677C 643
−3.3%
24 26.29 29 0
Ennis N SEnnis 15042A 615
+9.4%
25 23.80 28 0
Gael SC Mhichil ChiosogInis 19838P 451
+11.9%
19 23.42 31 1
Sixmilebridge N SSixmilebridge 16908S 423
−19.6%
18 22.83 29 0
Barefield Mixed N SEnnis 14830U 390
+0.3%
16 24.06 28 0
Clarecastle National SchoolClarecastle 17026M 362
−4.2%
15 23.73 32 1
St Conaires NSShannon 19274S 338
−32.1%
15 22.13 32 1
Scoil na Mainistreach Quin DanganQuin 20476O 330
+5.1%
13 24.46 32 4
Convent of Mercy National SchoolKilrush 20041C 329
+6.1%
16 19.81 24 0
SN an Phairtin MixedParteen 16946D 317
−15.5%
12 25.92 32 3
Holy Family SNREnnis 07315N 306
−10.5%
14 20.79 24 0
Cratloe N SCratloe 04919H 278
0.0%
12 22.25 31 2
Scoil Seanain NaofaClonlara 04548V 276
−19.1%
11 25.09 33 1
S N Cnoc an EinEnnis 17583V 262
+0.8%
11 23.82 34 3
St Aidans NSShannon 19698C 260
−2.6%
11 23.18 33 2
St Mochullas N.S.Tulla 20075T 259
−9.4%
10 25.30 34 3
Scoil na Maighdine MhuireNewmarket-on-Fergus 20127M 238
+13.9%
10 23.20 31 1
Chriost RiEnnis 19559L 226
+2.3%
12 18.33 24 0
Naomh TolaShannon 19552U 218
−3.5%
8 25.75 34 3
Ballyea Mixed N SEnnis 13418J 212
+8.2%
9 23.56 31 1
S N Cluain MuingeNewmarket-on-Fergus 18032M 205
+36.7%
8 25.62 30 1
Holy Family Junior SchoolEnnis 17957N 167
−12.6%
11 14.09 18 0
Lissycasey N SEnnis 18555V 167
+10.6%
7 22.14 32 1
Saint Marys N S LahinchLahinch 18753C 166
+16.9%
7 23.71 27 0
Inchicronan Central NSCrusheen 19551S 158
+32.8%
6 26.33 30 1
Mol an Óige Community National SchoolEnnistymon 20313J 158
+8.2%
8 19.75 23 0
Eidhneach N SInagh 14622N 150
+5.6%
6 23.00 27 0
Ennis Educate Together NSEnnis 20086B 144
+54.8%
6 22.00 24 0
Lisdoonvarna N SLisdoonvarna 19700J 143
+22.2%
6 23.83 27 0
Scariff Central N SScariff 19366A 142
−7.2%
6 22.67 26 0
Broadford & Kilbane National SchoolBroadford 20452A 136
+5.4%
6 21.67 31 1
Kilkishen N SEnnis 13870E 134
+12.6%
6 20.50 26 0
Scoil Realt na MaraKilkee 20078C 134
+116.1%
5 26.80 31 1
Miltown Malbay B N SMiltown Malbay 18720K 128
+43.8%
5 25.60 36 2
Kildysart N SKildysart 15301V 122
−23.3%
5 24.40 29 0
S N Dubh RathClarecastle 18696Q 113
+32.9%
4 25.25 28 0
Shannon Airport 1 N SShannon 18739I 113
−10.3%
5 20.40 25 0
S N Baile an DroichidO'Brien's Bridge 18467B 107
−14.4%
5 21.40 30 1
S N LiosceanuirLiscannor 18410S 105
+54.4%
5 21.00 26 0
Inch N SEnnis 16186G 104
+9.5%
4 26.00 32 1
Killaloe Boys N SKillaloe 15370R 104
−10.3%
5 20.80 27 0
Raheen Wood Community National SchoolTuamgraney 20312H 102
−1.9%
4 24.00 27 0
Scoil Mhuire NaisiuntaCorofin 18227E 102
−16.4%
4 25.50 28 0
Ogonnelloe National SchoolScariff 17563P 101
−9.8%
5 20.20 31 1
Stonehall N SNewmarket-on-Fergus 15350L 101
−1.9%
4 23.75 28 0
Mercy Convent KillaloeKillaloe 18624O 97
−2.0%
4 22.75 31 1
Kilmihil N.S.Kilmihil 13826B 96
+4.3%
4 22.50 26 0
Doolin Mixed N SEnnis 17517I 93
+22.4%
5 17.60 20 0
Kilmaley N SEnnis 14468G 88
−30.7%
4 22.00 26 0
Kilnamona N SEnnis 13625O 85
−31.5%
4 21.25 28 0
S N Mhuire MiliucVia Limerick 18225A 84
−38.2%
4 19.50 21 0
Annagh N SMiltown Malbay 15221A 81
−3.6%
4 20.25 25 0
Kilnaboy N SEnnis 17832Q 80
−9.1%
4 20.00 24 0
Cooraclare B N SKilrush 17816S 78
−30.4%
4 19.50 23 0
Ruan Central NSEnnis 19442N 75
−31.8%
4 18.75 24 0
Toonagh N SEnnis 03898U 75
−38.5%
4 18.75 23 0
S N Inis CealtrachMountshannon 18109V 71
+18.3%
3 23.67 28 0
Gaelscoil Donncha RuaSionna 19849U 68
+4.6%
3 18.67 24 0
S N MhuireFeakle 02439G 68
−15.0%
3 22.67 27 0
Scoil MhichilKilrush 20434V 66
+88.6%
3 22.00 26 0
S N Cill MuireSixmilebridge 13942D 65
−51.9%
4 16.25 21 0
Ennistymon National SchoolEnnistymon 20245S 64
−28.1%
3 21.33 24 0
Doonbeg N SDoonbeg 11765U 63
+53.7%
3 19.00 24 0
Kilmurry McMahon National SchoolKilrush 20447H 63
+14.5%
3 21.00 27 0
Gaelscoil Ui ChoiminCill Rois 19999Q 61
−6.2%
4 15.25 20 0
S N Colm CilleEnnistymon 17270A 58
+23.4%
3 19.33 25 0
St Fachnan & St Attractas N SKilfenora 20149W 57
−13.6%
3 19.00 21 0
Mullach N SEnnis 03928D 53
−14.5%
3 16.00 23 0
S N Baile na CailliEnnis 18639E 52
−37.3%
2 20.50 24 0
Shannon Airport No 2 NSShannon 18740Q 51
+410.0%
3 13.00 15 0
Quilty NSEnnis 17020A 49
+19.5%
2 24.50 25 0
Clooney N STulla 15279I 48
−52.9%
3 16.00 20 0
Lakyle N SWhitegate 15981A 47
−23.0%
3 15.67 24 0
Tomgraney N STuamgraney 14571W 47
−45.3%
3 15.67 18 0
S N Eoin BaisteBallyvaughan 17633K 42
+20.0%
3 14.00 15 0
Tubber N SVia Galway 10886E 40
+48.1%
2 20.00 21 0
Moveen N SKilkee 13876Q 39
−45.1%
3 13.00 16 0
St. Josephs National School CreeKilrush 20570G 38 – 3 12.67 15 0
S N Ma SheastaMoyasta 18565B 37
−35.1%
2 18.50 22 0
Flagmount Central NSCaher 19338S 35
−27.1%
2 17.50 20 0
Rineen N SMiltown Malbay 09425H 35
−31.4%
2 17.50 18 0
Ballycar N SNewmarket-on-Fergus 18526O 34
−2.9%
2 14.00 15 0
SN na CrannaigheKilrush 13804O 32
+52.4%
2 16.00 18 0
New Quay NSH91 Hy40 19043W 31
+34.8%
2 15.50 18 0
Carrigaholt Mixed N SKilrush 18630J 30
+7.1%
2 12.00 12 0
Coore National SchoolEnnis 20404M 30
+15.4%
3 10.00 15 0
Labasheeda Central N SKilrush 19386G 30
+11.1%
2 15.00 17 0
O Callaghans Mills N SO'Callaghan's Mills 05253H 29
−54.7%
2 14.50 15 0
S N Iosef NaofaAn Leacht 18339P 29
−9.4%
2 14.50 15 0
Bodyke N SBodyke 11990E 27
+17.4%
2 13.50 18 0
Connolly N SEnnis 15408Q 27
−35.7%
2 13.50 15 0
S N Chathair AodhaEnnis 18541K 27
−40.0%
2 13.50 19 0
S N Padraig Nfa FanoirBallyvaughan 13379C 25
−10.7%
2 12.50 19 0
Boston N STubber 10763L 24
+9.1%
2 12.00 13 0
Dromindoora N.S.Feakle 18950E 23
−37.8%
2 11.50 12 0
Rockmount Mixed N SMiltown Malbay 09390O 23
−46.5%
2 11.50 12 0
Clohanes N SMullagh 13730L 22
−48.8%
2 11.00 13 0
Doonaha N SKilkee 12848G 21
+31.2%
2 10.50 12 0
S N Aibhistin NaofaKilshanny 17847G 21
−40.0%
2 10.50 12 0
Coolmeen N SKilrush 12633I 20
+81.8%
2 10.00 12 0
S N Cluain an AthaInis 17246D 19
−26.9%
2 9.50 10 0
S N CuanKilrush 18359V 19
−55.8%
2 9.50 11 0
Burrane N SKilrush 13738E 17
−72.6%
2 8.50 10 0
S N Cnoc DoireKilrush 18327I 17
−32.0%
2 8.50 10 0
S N Cronain Nfa an CarnEnnis 18190H 15
−21.1%
2 7.50 10 0
Scoil an Sraith S NDoonbeg 16930L 15
−42.3%
2 7.50 8 0
Bansha N SKilkee 11714D 7
−82.5%
1 7.00 7 0
Forgleann N SLahinch 18768P 7
−80.0%
2 3.50 5 0
Cluain DraigneachInis 18540I 5
−75.0%
2 2.50 3 0