Pre-Independence The latter part of the 19th century saw the so-called Gaelic revival, which included the revival of Gaelic sports and the establishment of the Gaelic League. This was part of the overall political nationalist movement towards Home Rule and, later, independence. The revolutionary government of Sinn Féin from 1919 to 1922 sought to prioritise Irish. The proceedings of the first Dáil in January 1919 […]
Pre-National Schools Prior to the introduction of the National School System, there was no systematic provision of education in Ireland. The Kildare Place Society and Catholic teaching orders provided education in some places. Church-related agencies provided schools, some with and some without state aid. Those provided with government aid were mainly associated with the established church. The Presentation Sisters found in 1791, the Mercy Sisters […]
1945-1967 In the two Inter-party governments of 1948 – 51 and 1954 to 1957, Richard Mulcahy, the leader of Fine Gael, the biggest party, was Minister for Education although not Taoiseach for political reasons). The Council of Education was established in 1950. It consisted primarily of professional educators. The Council examined the curriculum of primary and secondary schools and produced two reports. A significant number […]
Programme of Action The Programme for Action in Education 1984 to 1987 promoted the idea of a permanent and continuing education for all citizens and equal opportunities for educational advancement. It mentioned the possibility of positive discrimination in favour of persons who are educationally disadvantaged. The Programme emphasised the relevance of the educational process to work and participation in education by both sexes. At post-primary […]
1922-1932 Upon the establishment of the Irish Free State and partition, the education legislation of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State diverged. Educational legislation was changed significantly in Northern Ireland after partition, so that each state followed a different path. In the Free State, education proceeded along the denominational line. The non–denominational training college was closed, and its student teachers transferred to denominational colleges. […]
Secondary Education Background After the Catholic Relief Act 1792, Catholic Secondary Education developed. Religious orders established denominational schools throughout Ireland without state assistance. They were owned generally by the diocese or religious order concerned. A select committee of the House of Commons in 1835 examined the existing state of schools and proposed the establishment of new schools on a nationwide basis. Elementary education would be […]