School Closures

2024-2025

St. Oliver's will re-open On Thursday, August 29th 2024

  • Doors Open at 8:40 am
  • Classes commence at 8:50am
  • Junior and Senior Infant classes finish at 1:30 pm
  • 1st to 6th Classes finish at 2:30 pm

The school will be closed on the following dates

  • October Mid-term  -  One week. Monday 28th Oct to Friday 1st November 2024
  • December Church Holiday - Friday 6th December 2024
  • Christmas Holidays  -  Friday 20th December 2024 to Friday 3rd Jan 2025 (School closes on Friday 20th @ 12 noon and re-opens on Monday 6th of January 2025)
  • February Bank Holiday:  Monday 3rd of February 2025
  • Mid Term Break- Thurs 20th and Friday 21st February 2025
  • St. Patrick's Day  - Friday 14th March and Monday 17th March 2025
  • Easter Holidays - Monday 14th April to Friday 25th April inclusive. (Closing on Friday 11th April @ 12 noon and re-opening on Monday 28th April 2025)
  • May Bank Holiday -  Monday 5th May 2025
  • June Bank Holiday - Monday 2nd June 2025

SCHOOL CLOSES ON  Wednesday 25 th June 2025.

ALL THE ABOVE DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

 Download School Calendar 2024-2025

  School Closures

 

Maria O'Connell (2nd from the left) and Norrie Sheehan (3rd from the left) pictured with Principal Mr. Colm Ó'Súilleabháin and Deputy Principal Sandra Chute (from the right) on their Retirement Day in St Oliver's NS on Wednesday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

                            Mr.Colm Ó Suilleabhain, Ms. Maria O'Connell, Ms. Norrie Sheehan and Ms. Sandra Chute,

A teacher and special-needs assistant who’ve worked at a Killarney school for a combined 47 years have bid farewell to St Oliver’s National School.

Maria O’Connell – of Muckross View, Killarney, but originally from County Limerick – has taught for 39 years, 24 of which were spent at St Oliver’s. Norrie Sheehan, meanwhile, herself a County Limerick native, has worked as a special-needs assistant at St Oliver’s for 23 years.

And both received huge praise in recent days from their principal, Colm Ó Súilleabháin, for their outstanding work, not least on behalf of students with additional needs. Because of this, neither will be forgotten by the school community, he added.

Maria set up the first specific-learning disability class at the school in 1999 and continued to work there until her retirement. Students from all over Kerry avail of this service, a point Colm stressed.

“Maria has had a monumental impact on the children in her care,” he said. “Her dedication to learning has helped countless children overcome challenges.

“Her legacy as an advocate for children with dyslexia will live on.”

Maria, a keen hill walker and globe-trotting cyclist, now looks forward to spending more time with her husband, Noel; son, Eoin; and daughter, Maeve.

Norrie has supported children with additional needs in both mainstream and special settings, and Colm this week commended her Trojan efforts.

“Norrie has a wonderful way of making every child feel valued,” he said. “Her kindness, empathy and passion for supporting children through their learning journey will never be forgotten.”

Norrie has an impressive marathon-running CV, and she fundraises for charities, both local and national. She will spend her retirement well in the company of her daughter, Aisling; son-in-law, Gregg; and her two grandchildren.

Maria and Norrie also thanked colleagues past and present, including former principals – Rory D’Arcy and the late Brendan Walshe – and vice principals, Donal O’Shea, Tim Horgan, and the late Sister Scholastica.

We wish them both good health and happiness as they embark on their new journeys.