Schools split over Dempsey's half-day ban

A SPLIT developed in Cork schools yesterday as the city's Lord Mayor defied a directive from the Minister for Education and asked principals to give pupils a half day.

Lord Mayor Colm Burke, stood firm as he began his annual round of school visits, despite a letter from Noel Dempsey calling a halt to the tradition started in Cork in 1920.

Mr Burke asked the first three schools he visited to take a half day and they agreed. Four others upheld Mr Dempsey's directive. In the next five weeks the mayor intends to make the same request at another 99 schools.