Every May in Ireland, newspapers, magazines and radio shows are full of talk about Communion Season, as it seems collectively to be known. And during Communion Season, (I dislike that term), you hear lots of talk about getting the house painted and decorated, you hear a lot about dinner plans in hotels, you hear a … Read more
In September 2022, Nenagh will become the town with the first “thriving” school to reconfigure to the ETB and change from being a Catholic School to being a Community National School. John Gunnell is currently the principal of St. Mary’s Junior Boys’ National School, soon to be Nenagh CNS. I’ve covered the politics behind the … Read more
In September 2022, Nenagh will become the town with the first “thriving” school to reconfigure to the ETB and change from being a Catholic School to being a Community National School. John Gunnell is currently the principal of St. Mary’s Junior Boys’ National School, soon to be Nenagh CNS. I’ve covered the politics behind the … Read more
I hate to bring the C word up again, especially so soon after we seemed, as a nation, to decide that COVID19 was all over and we could start shaking hands, giving each other hugs and having bonfires fuelled by hand sanitiser! Actually, I’m joking about the last bit – don’t try it, kids. While … Read more
I hate to bring the C word up again, especially so soon after we seemed, as a nation, to decide that COVID19 was all over and we could start shaking hands, giving each other hugs and having bonfires fuelled by hand sanitiser! Actually, I’m joking about the last bit – don’t try it, kids. While … Read more
If I was the Minister for Education, I think I’d hire my guest this week as my deputy! If you don’t know Annie Asgard, you are in for a treat. Annie and I could talk about anything but we decided to focus on EAL (English as an Additional Language) teaching. It’s relevant always but in … Read more
If I was the Minister for Education, I think I’d hire my guest this week as my deputy! If you don’t know Annie Asgard, you are in for a treat. Annie and I could talk about anything but we decided to focus on EAL (English as an Additional Language) teaching. It’s relevant always but in … Read more
As I’m sure you’ve probably figured out by now, I could talk about the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism forever and I’m sure I’ll be coming back to it many times again. There are so many stories that blossomed from it, whether it was the struggle for Castlebar or the scaremongering in Malahide, and I’m … Read more
As I’m sure you’ve probably figured out by now, I could talk about the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism forever and I’m sure I’ll be coming back to it many times again. There are so many stories that blossomed from it, whether it was the struggle for Castlebar or the scaremongering in Malahide, and I’m … Read more
The paradoxical relationship that most Irish people have with the church baffles me. I can’t understand why people care so little about the fact that religion permeates the entire day of 95% of primary schools in the country, even to the point of defending it when there are moves to change schools over to multi-denominational … Read more