miércoles, 28 de octubre de 2026
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Parents and former pupils of Glenstal Abbey in bid to prevent closure

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The Irish Times · Irlanda · Prensahace 23 horas

Former pupils and parents of students at Glenstal Abbey, one of Ireland’s best-known private boarding schools, have written to the school in a bid to explore “alternative options” to its closure, announced on Friday. The Co Limerick Benedictine school, in operation for almost 100 years, is set to close its doors by August 2028 following declining demand for boarding school education and rising costs.

The decision to close the school of almost 200 pupils came as a shock to many, following major refurbishment works in the last few years. This included the upgrading of all dormitories; the modernising of both the junior and senior refectories or dining areas; the refurbishment of the existing gym and creation of a new one; and the restoration of the castle’s walls.

Retreats are offered at Glenstal during the school holidays. Sixth years will finish their secondary education next year.

Current first, third and fourth years are…

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Is English a foreign language?

Sir, – I read with interest your article headlined “‘The focus is finding people from Ireland’: The EU’s big ask for new English translators,” (Business, October 26th). It is noted in the article that Ireland has the lowest proportion of secondary school students who study two or more foreign languages. Is English not technically a foreign language? In Ireland, most secondary school students study either French, German or Spanish in addition to English and our native Irish. If English were to be correctly classified as a foreign language, then the statement that Ireland has the lowest proportion of teenagers who study two or more foreign languages would not hold true. – Yours, etc, THOMAS HAYDEN,Carrickmines,Dublin.

The Irish Times · Irlandahace 37 minutos
General

Fond memories of having our Mary cake and eating it

Sir, – Geoff Scargill (Letters, October 27th) glories in his recollection of the Bewley’s Mary cake and recounts that it was “an unforgettable childhood treat”. Well Geoff, I can tell you it wasn’t just a childhood treat. I’d known about it as Bewley’s in Grafton Street was a favourite watering hole with my parents. When I was at UCD in Earlsfort Terrace in the 1960s, before exam time we went to a cafe around the corner in Leeson Street armed with the Nutshell revision booklet on Roman law. It was a subject I much liked and I offered to help my friends with it. At some point, I told my friends about an alternative billet and what was on offer in Grafton Street so we went there. When they had their first taste of the sumptuous Mary cake, they were hooked. As far as I remember, they passed that Roman…

The Irish Times · Irlandahace 37 minutos
General

Restrictions on political donations mean Ireland has avoided Reform UK-style controversy

Sir, – Recent revelations concerning Reform UK’s receipt of corporate donations are a timely reminder of how easily political funding can have an impact on democratic processes. Reports that a large share of Reform UK’s donations in 2025–2026 came from individuals or companies based overseas, alongside a controversy over foreign donations, have prompted police investigation and legitimate public concern. The episode illustrates the risks when large sums, opaque corporate structures and cross-border donors intersect with electoral politics. Ireland is right to be proud that its political funding rules are considerably more restrictive. Registered corporate donors here remain subject to relatively low limits. These limits do not eliminate the influence of money, but they make the kind of vast, concentrated corporate or offshore backed donations seen in the United Kingdom (or of even more concern in the United States) far harder to achieve in Irish elections. It may be that our…

The Irish Times · Irlandahace 37 minutos
General

Homes in the Gaeltacht

Sir, – As someone whose mother was from Inis Mór, it is exasperating to see successive governments pay lip service to our Gaeltachtaí and islands without any meaningful reform to their housing problem. If they really wish to protect them and give young people a chance of their own home and at the same time ensure the language’s survival, they must reform local planning laws and prohibit the sale of houses to outsiders as holiday homes. If people want to buy there they must live there also and commit to learning Irish. I’m sure this would have a dampening effect on house prices. – Yours, etc,ENDA SCANLON, Ennis,Co Clare.

The Irish Times · Irlandahace 37 minutos