Colman Noctor: What we can learn from the Carlow school shooting threat

Young people in Ireland are no longer immune to the broader cultural forces that can dangerously shape disaffection among youth

The mere suggestion of a school shooting is enough to shatter the sense of safety parents rely on when sending their children to school each morning. File picture: iStock 

I LIVE in Carlow, and the messages that circulated through parents’ WhatsApp groups last week were ones I hoped I would never have to read. Word had got out that an email had been received by several local primary schools about a potential school shooting.

Although gardaí acted quickly and reassured the school community that it was likely a hoax with no perceived danger, the emotional impact lingered.