St Kieran’s College Kilkenny: First Year admissions for 2027–28

St Kieran’s College is a Catholic all-boys voluntary secondary school on College Road in Kilkenny. It is a day school. It is not Kilkenny College, the co-educational Church of Ireland boarding and day school on Castlecomer Road.

The school serves First Year through Leaving Certificate. Its programme includes the Junior Cycle, Transition Year and senior-cycle study.

Who it may suit

St Kieran’s may suit families seeking a Catholic boys’ education in Kilkenny without boarding. The policy identifies the Bishop of Ossory as patron and describes the school’s Catholic ethos.

The school cannot admit girls because it is an all-boys school. Families needing boarding should compare it with Kilkenny College rather than treating the two schools as interchangeable.

Visit before applying

The 2026 Open Night takes place on Monday 21 September for boys in Sixth Class who are considering First Year in 2027–28. The programme includes a presentation in the Sports Hall and guided tours.

Families register separately to receive an invitation and allocated time. The school is explicit that this registration has no bearing on enrolment.

Use the visit to ask about the ordinary First Year timetable, pastoral support and subject choice. An open-night invitation is useful preparation, but it is not an application or an admissions advantage.

First Year timetable for 2027–28

The annual notice gives these dates:

1. Applications open on 1 October 2026.
2. Applications close at 4 p.m. on 22 October 2026.
3. Offers are posted by 5 November 2026.
4. Acceptance is due by 4 p.m. on 13 November 2026.
5. The entrance assessment is scheduled for 27 February 2027.

An application submitted after the October deadline is treated as late. Missing the November acceptance deadline may cause an offer to be withdrawn.

The policy says academic ability is not considered when deciding admission. The February assessment should therefore be understood as a post-offer placement or information exercise, not a competitive entrance exam. Confirm its purpose with the school if the distinction matters to your child.

An important place-count ambiguity

The document is titled “Annual Admission Notice for 2027/28,” but its place-count section says 2026/27. That section lists 140 First Year places and three special-class places, subject to NCSE sanction.

Because of the conflicting heading, families should not quote 140 as a confirmed 2027–28 mainstream total without asking the school. Request written confirmation that the numbers apply to the new cohort.

The same notice gives clear historical context for 2026–27. It reports 150 available First Year places, 329 applications and 28 names on the waiting list. Those figures show real oversubscription, but they do not guarantee the outcome of a later application.

How oversubscription works

For both the mainstream intake and the special class, the policy applies these categories in order:

1. Brothers of current pupils.
2. Sons of eligible staff who meet the service condition in the policy.
3. Nephews or grandnephews of qualifying priests connected with the Diocese of Ossory or St Kieran’s College.
4. Sons or grandsons of former pupils, within the legal limit that applies to alumni priority.
5. All other applicants.

When a category has more eligible applicants than places, the school uses a lottery within that category. Applications for twins, triplets or brothers from one family are treated as one applicant in the lottery.

Read the current policy rather than relying on informal descriptions of “catchment.” The published criteria do not establish a simple distance-based priority.

Autism classes and learning support

The admissions policy says the school has two autism classes, known as Ionad Chiaráin. A special-class application requires the professional evidence specified by the policy and an NCSE letter confirming eligibility and recommendation.

Special-class places are allocated before the remaining mainstream places. The application form asks whether a special-class applicant should also be considered for mainstream admission if the special-class application is unsuccessful or ineligible.

This is a formal eligibility process, not a general learning-support request. Families seeking mainstream support should discuss their child’s needs separately with the school.

Transfers into later years

The school’s transfer page asks for a hardcopy form, the boy’s two most recent reports and a covering letter explaining the proposed move. The school sends an email receipt to the address on the form.

The policy says transfer forms should arrive by 15 June for vacancies in the following academic year. Later forms are processed as late applications. Availability depends on the relevant year, class and subjects.

Follow up if no receipt arrives within a few days. Do not assume that posting a form has secured a place.

Costs

The policy says payment of fees or contributions cannot be considered when deciding admission. The school pages reviewed for this profile do not publish a current table for optional activities, trips, books, uniform or other extras.

Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.