One Direction lose out to First Communion

First Communion is the “only direction” for a Limerick school which has voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the original date for the occasion.

Catholic parents at Gaelschoil an Ráithín were asked to decide between two dates for their children’s First Communion after three families complained when the original date clashed with a One Direction concert.

A school meeting on Tuesday night became heated when the parents involved insisted that the date be changed, while other parents became incensed at what one described as the “disrespect shown to the Blessed Sacrament”.

When it proved impossible to agree on the alternative date of May 3, the school meeting was ended.

Children were sent home on Wednesday with notes asking parents of the 30 families who have children in the Holy Communion class to vote on a preferred date.

In a statement yesterday, the school confirmed an overwhelming majority of parents voted to keep with the original date.

“Further to requests from a small number of parents to change the planned date of May 24 next for the reception of Holy Communion for the first time for our 2nd Class pupils, Gaelscoil an Ráithín, in order to reach the fairest outcome for all concerned, balloted parents overnight on this matter,” the statement read.

“The result of that ballot has been overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the original date. Staff, parents and children of Gaelscoil an Ráithín look forward to preparing for this very special celebration.”

The controversy erupted after a number of schools in Cork and Dublin previously selected Holy Communion dates to avoid a clash with the sell-out concert series following early representations from parents and children aloke.

The boy band, including Westmeath’s Niall Horan, first played Dublin’s O2 in 2011 as part of the X Factor tour after they finished third in the hit British talent show.

One Direction will play three gigs in Croke Park from May 23-25 as part of their mammoth Where We Are tour.

Tickets for all three Croke Park concerts sold out within minutes of going on sale.