Drama in Irish education is an enigmatic proposition, more observable in its absence than in its presence. This is at odds with the prominent status drama and theatre occupy in Irish society and cultural life. This article positions drama within the curriculums of the formal education system, contextualises the historical place and contemporary development of drama as a curricular subject and offers a critical analysis of the current primary drama curriculum. It also discusses the reasons behind the ongoing absence of drama from the secondary curriculum. It concludes by arguing that a para-aesthetic understanding of drama can help avoid a continued negative space in Irish drama education.