GRAINNE KELLY
Sir, - We would like to respond to Ivana Bacik's letter of April 23rd. As parents of two children who have attended Gaelscoil Thulach Na nÓg for almost four years now, we were fully aware of the inter-denominational ethos when we chose to send them to the school. We do not have any concerns that our children will learn about both Catholic and Protestant faiths while they are in the school classroom, nor do our children have any concerns. We have always felt that this would only benefit them as they decided for themselves, when they grew into young adults, what religion was for them or if any religion at all.
They would make an informed choice themselves - not like their parents, and many of our own friends, who have some elements of some religion and don't know why.
However, we are somewhat perplexed to read in newspaper articles and to hear over the national broadcasting services that some parents, while opposed to segregation, are advocating the segregation of our Catholic children after school in order that our Protestant children would not be segregated during school hours.
If the difficulties our school is facing at present are really about an attempt to separate Church and State, than let those who seek to do this and their supporters take it up with the Church Hierarchy and the leglislators and leave our little children's school alone so they can get on with their education. - Yours, etc.,
GRAINNE KELLY
and MARTIN CAHILL,
Beechdale,
Dunboyne,
Co Meath.