WATCH: Students and teachers in Cork protest ongoing closure of indoor performing arts classes

“Most of my friends, we don’t play football, we don’t play hurling, all we want to do is dance, sing and act. Every other child is getting to do their sport and we’re not being given the chance.” 

Performing Arts Educators of Ireland protest in response to continued ban on indoor dance classes and stage schools, at Emmett Place, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Angry chants of ‘let us perform’ were heard around Cork city today as students and teachers protested the continued closure of indoor drama, dance and singing classes.

Trevor Ryan, director of Montfort College of Performing Arts and Cork co-ordinator of the Performing Arts Educators of Ireland (PAEI) said that safe indoor classes must be allowed to resume in September.