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A delegation
from the British Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body recently visited The High School, Rathgar,
to discuss with the Principal, pupils, staff and parents, the success of the school’s
interdenominational and inter-community policies.
Roger Stott, MP, opened the proceedings by explaining that
the body was established after the Anglo-Irish agreement and that one of its duties is to
make recommendations to the two governments to promote good community relations. In
response to questions from Marian Magennis, TD, and William O’Brien, MP, the pupils
present (Lydia Foster and Michelle McCartney) pointed out that differences of religion
were not an issue at this school and that they had never experienced discomfort as a
result of their religion. Mrs Fiona Timlin and Mr Terry McParland of the Parents’
Association felt that the different strands of the community which makes up the school
coexisted very happily together.
Pressed by Lord Merlyn Rees, former Secretary for Northern
Ireland, the Principal, Mr Brian Duffy, outlined the Religious Education programme and the
type of assembly used in the school. He stated that the school contained a large majority
of Protestants but that it had a conscious policy of providing places for people of other
faiths, so that good community relations were fostered.
Mr Philip Irwin, member of staff, outlined the significant
benefits of the Co-operation North projects in which the school has participated,
exchanging pupils and staff with Knockbreda High School from Northern Ireland, among
others. All present encouraged the two governments to promote more such schemes and to see
that they were properly funded. Sporting links, activity holidays and staff or Principal
exchanges were mentioned as potentially useful.
Based on this visit and on visits to other institutions, the
delegation will produce a report for the British and Irish governments recommending
further initiatives to encourage good community relations, North and South.
Photograph above, left to right - Lydia Foster, pupil;
David Rowell, Chairman of the Board of Governors; Lord Merlyn Rees; Michelle McCartney,
pupil; Fiona Timlin, President of the Parents’ Association.
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On the occasion of the 125th
anniversary of the foundation of the school, the Board of Governors was invited to meet
in the House of Lords, now owned by the Bank of Ireland in College Green, Dublin.
The bank account of the governors (of the Erasmus Smith Trust) was thought to be
the oldest in the bank's portfolio, having been opened in 1669 with La Touche, one of the
constituent banks which came to comprise the Bank of Ireland.
Mr Norman Kilroy retired as Chairman of the Board on that occasion and was
succeeded by Mr David Rowell. |
