The question illustrates all that is wonderful and yet problematic about the primary school landscape in Ireland. It is also wonderful because many Catholic schools are named after women and look how long it took us to get even the Rosie Hackett Bridge in Dublin. A parent recently told me that he preferred Catholic schools because you “knew where you stood with them”. The last Programme for Government had a target of 400 primary schools for divestment. Irish bishops, as the patrons of Catholic primary schools, and in conjunction with the Catholic Education Partnership – which represents Catholic education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels – are in the process of establishing a group to facilitate the divestment conversation.

Source: The Irish Times December 14, 2025 08:03 UTC