Cathal Dennehy: Too often PE an optional extra rather than a necessity 

The penny has taken a long time to drop but physical education is a core fundamental subject.

ALL IN: The benefits of physical activity for young people are well established. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane

The religion teacher meant well. It was Leaving Cert year, and at Ardscoil Rís in Limerick he asked one day how the running was going. So I told him what I was training for: the All-Ireland Schools Championships, staged in Tullamore on the first Saturday in June. Four days before the Leaving Cert. He looked puzzled.

“I assume you’re going to be cutting back on athletics as it gets closer to the exams?”