Niamh Breathnach changed lives for the better, and her impact will last for generations

She will be remembered as one of the most consequential education ministers we’ve ever had

Niamh Bhreathnach was one of the most fearless, principled and determined leaders that Irish politics has produced. Picture:RollingNews.ie

Since Niamh Bhreathnach’s death, I’ve been surprised by the number of people I’ve met who remember her for something I had almost forgotten. One of my neighbours, for instance, now runs his own business. He plans to go to her funeral, although he has never met her. The reason?

“If it wasn’t for the Applied Leaving Cert,” he told me, “I’d have left school early and with nothing. She did that.”