This article is from page 20 of the 2008-04-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
A TOTAL OF eight north-Clare pri- mary schools lodged strenuous ob- jections to attempts by Mol an Oige Steiner school in Ennistymon to se- cure state recognition.
According to records’ released through the Freedom of Information Act, a total of 52 objections were lodged against the new school – made up of boards of management, school
principals, teachers and parents from primary schools based in and around Ennistymon, Kilshanny, Kilfenora, Doolin, Lahinch and Moy.
The objections came from Convent Primary School, Ennistymon, Clou- na National School, Furglan Nation- al School, Doolin National School, Kilshanny National School, Lahinch Scoil Mhuire, Scoil losef Maigh and St Fachnan’s and St Attracta’s Na- tional School at Kilfenora.
The greatest amount of opposition in numerical terms came from the Burren village of Kilfenora where 22 objections were received, while three priests, Fr Pat Rabbitte, Fr Joseph Roche and Rev Sean McHugh in their role as chairmen of schools’ board of management were also par- ty to school objections.
However, the objections to the school were outnumbered three to one by those in favour after Mol an
Oige encouraged a_ letter-writing campaign in order to secure a posi- tive response from the Department of Education.
151 submissions were received in favour of the school application and these are made up of community supporters (64), parent/family (42), school/teacher 16, business person (5), public representatives (3) while those ‘not clear’ were 21.
Public representatives to write in
favour of the Mol an Oige bid in- cluded Deputy Timmy Dooley and Councillor Flan Garvey.
The bid for recognition by Raheen Wood Steiner school in Tuamgraney received only one objection, while 76 submissions were received in favour.
However, internal departmental memos show that no consideration was given to the various concerns expressed by the schools in relation to the application from Mol an Oige.