A Boys’ school was established in Killaloe in June 1841. The first master of the school was a man called John Moloney who was only 23 years of age at the time. In the school’ s first year there were 86 pupils on roll with an average attendance of 70. The school day was from 9am to 3.30pm. The exact location of the school is unknown although we do know that it was described as a small house. One classroom was on the ground floor and the second classroom was on the first floor. Mr. Moloney lived in the rest of the building.

The number of pupils increased to 131 so in 1845 the school was moved to a bigger house located on The Green. A further move was made in 1852 to a house in John Street. This building, which was demolished long ago, was located opposite the present entrance to the Convent National School.

Four houses were purchased at the lower end of New Street and these were then demolished and a two-storey school building was erected.  The Girls’ school was on the grounds floor and the Boys’ school was upstairs. Each school had its own playground. The building was completed in 1856 and opened straight away. For the next ten years junior classes attended the Killaloe Male Preparatory School which was held in the same building while infant boys enrolled in the Girls’ school.

In 1889 the Sisters of Mercy moved to the new Girls’ school in Abbey Street leaving the New Street building entirely to the boys. In 1901 a new single storey school was built at the rear of the old school. The new buildings consisted of 2 large rooms. It was officially opened on January 21st 1902. The school was unsuitable from the start. There was a loud echo in the rooms as well as being very cold. Often there was no coal for the fires in the rooms.

In 1957 it was decided to renovate the school. However tenders received were too high so it was decided to build a new school. The existing school site was purchased for £700. Building began in 1963. Classes moved into the new school on the 4th October 1965. An extension consisting of one classroom, a general purpose room, remedial room, teachers’ room and store rooms was added in 1983.

The highest number recorded on the rolls of the school was 267 for the year 1889. This dropped gradually to just over 100 in the early 1900’s.

The school currently has 119 pupils on roll. There are 5 class teachers as well as 3 learning supports/resource teachers.