The History of Courtenay National School

1706 – Present

Courtenay National School owes its origins to the plantation of the lands belonging to Gerald, Earl of Desmond. Following his rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I, he was defeated and killed in 1583. His estates were subsequently granted to English settlers, including Sir William Courtenay of Powderham Castle, Devon.

By the early eighteenth century, the Courtenay estate had become one of the largest in Ireland, with Newcastle West serving as its principal town. Sir William Courtenay was regarded as an improving landlord and, through his agents, oversaw significant developments in the town. As part of this progress, Courtenay School was established.

The first school was built around 1720 at a cost of £320 in a laneway between Maiden Street and the River Arra. It was named after the Courtenay family. The original building is now the premises of O’Donovan & Associates.

In 1826, a grant of over three acres was provided as the site for a new school. The Lord Lieutenant contributed £138 towards the project, with the remaining funds raised through local subscriptions. A three-room limestone school building was subsequently constructed.

Courtenay School became part of the National School system in 1850, with Edward Curling serving as manager. At that time, both boys and girls attended the school. Shortly afterwards, the girls’ section closed. In 1858, the Christian Brothers were invited to manage the school, remaining until 1880. During this period, a teacher’s residence and handball alley were also built.

Following many years of service, the original building was replaced in the mid-1950s by the five-classroom school building that fronts the road today. In 1977, the school underwent a significant extension with the addition of six classrooms and a General Purpose Room.

Also in 1977, a special class for children with Mild General Learning Disability was established through the efforts of the school manager, Dean O’Brien P.P. In 2000, a Speech and Language Class was opened, providing specialist educational support for children from across West Limerick and surrounding areas.

In 2017, Courtenay National School opened its first Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) class, followed by two additional ASD classes in 2019 and 2022. Together with the Speech and Language and Mild General Learning Disability classes, these specialist settings provide a wealth of expertise and support for pupils and families.

In April 2023, the school officially opened a major extension comprising a mainstream classroom, two ASD classrooms, a Sensory Room, two Special Education Teaching (SET) rooms and a kitchen facility. This development further enhanced the school’s learning environment and its capacity to support the diverse needs of its pupils.

The 2023/2024 school year marked another significant milestone as Courtenay National School was granted DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) Urban Band 1 status. This has enabled the school to further strengthen teaching and learning, wellbeing, attendance, family engagement and inclusion through additional supports and resources.

In September 2025, Courtenay National School proudly became a co-educational primary school, welcoming both boys and girls into Junior Infants. This marked a historic new chapter in the school’s long tradition of serving the children and families of Newcastle West.

Today, Courtenay National School is a vibrant, inclusive and progressive primary school where every child is encouraged to grow, learn and flourish. The school continues to evolve, with modern facilities, dedicated staff and a strong partnership between pupils, parents, staff and the wider community ensuring that the proud tradition of Courtenay National School continues for future generations.