Up to 3,000 for protest over cuts which threaten future of rural schools

Up to 3,000 people from communities all over West Cork are expected to stage a protest in Bantry on Friday over changes which they warn could force the closure of small rural schools.

The Save Our Small Schools (SOSS) West Cork group protest is targeted at Taoiseach Enda Kenny — himself a former principal of a small school — who is due to attend a retirement function for former TDs PJ Sheehan and Jim O’Keeffe in the town on Friday night.

“We want to have a very strong presence there to get the message across that we do not want small schools being put under pressure with the new staffing schedule, which raises the pupil-teacher ratio,” said Norma Healy of SOSS West Cork and principal of the two teacher, 16-pupil Cappabue National School in Kealkil.