O’Malley ‘bombshell’ most effective policy by any minister ever

As of 1940, primary school was the sole source of education for 90% of the population. Fifty years ago, Donogh O’Malley outlined an initiative that would finally change all that, writes Ryle Dwyer 

Fifty years ago tomorrow Donogh O’Malley, then education minister, formally outlined to the Dáil his plans for free secondary education in this country. This was arguably the single most effective initiative ever taken by any Irish minister.

Just 6% of the population ever went beyond a primary education while this country was part of the United Kingdom. For the next four decades of independence, the various Irish governments considered a primary education sufficient for all but a tiny minority.