Four sets of twins will fit in pairfectly

Unlike buses — which normally come in twos after a long wait — four sets of twins have arrived a school in the small rural Cork parish of Donoughmore.

Out of 30 children starting junior infants at St Lachteen’s National School in Stuake yesterday, no less than eight were twins.

For teacher Barry Condron, it might seem a difficult task, but he is not unaccustomed to the principles of pairing, being a twin himself. He and his brother Mark are from Thurles, Co Tipperary and he was able to think of a few advantages in school.

“I remember it made it a bit easier having someone else with you starting school, all right,” he said.

And thankfully, just one of the four pairs are identical twins.

Barry said Scott and Sean Bruton’s mum admitted she finds it harder to tell them apart when they are on their own.

“Apparently it’s easier to tell who is who if they’re together so hopefully I’ll be okay, although I’m not sure how I’ll do if there’s ever only one of them in the room.”

The others joining him include brothers Cian and Jamie O’Sullivan, Ava and Christian Honohan, and Jack and Sarah Foley.

Their teacher should have it fairly easy when it comes to practical illustrations for their two-times tables.

It was also a first in Mallow, where Munster’s only community national school was opened by Cork Education and Training Board. Unlike most start-up schools, the new educational institution is incorporating pupils of the former Mallow No 1 School, a Church of Ireland primary which closed in June.

The school year is now underway for the majority of the country’s 700-plus second-level schools and, by next week, all 3,200 primary schools should be back.