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'It's a bit overboard' - Parents hit out at Dublin school closures due to Storm Barra

Schools in 12 counties were shut on Wednesday due to Storm Barra
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

16.59 8 Dec 2021


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'It's a bit overboard' - Paren...

'It's a bit overboard' - Parents hit out at Dublin school closures due to Storm Barra

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

16.59 8 Dec 2021


Share this article


Some parents say a decision to shut Dublin schools on Wednesday was too rushed and unnecessary.

Schools in 12 counties were shut on Wednesday due to Storm Barra.

Initially, schools in 11 counties were told to close as they remained under Status Red or Orange warnings.

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Dublin was added to the list late on Tuesday night, after Met Éireann upgraded its status to Orange.

However the alert was only in place up to 7.00am on Wednesday.

All Status Orange wind warnings have since rescinded, and the Department of Education says all schools will open as normal on Thursday.

However, these parents in Swords in Dublin told Henry McKean for The Hard Shoulder this isn't good enough.

Geraldine Kane says: "My daughter was delighted - she's in sixth year doing her Leaving Cert - but I think it was a bit unnecessary here in Dublin, to be honest.

"Whatever about the coastal counties, but it's really not so bad here.

"I can understand, and some people aren't living in the city and so close to the schools - probably - as we would be.

"But I think it's a bit overboard really... it's unnecessary".

But Geraldine says while her daughter's school did organise some virtual learning, her son's school remained open.

"They've organised Zoom calls and work... but Billy went ahead - his special education was open in Prosper today."

While Sandra Noble says: "I just feel that they've had enough time off as it is - but unfortunately there's nothing you can do about the weather."

And Alesha, who is Spanish and works at a Montessori school, says she cannot understand the shutdown.

"It's quite stormy, but it's just the normal weather here. So I don't really notice anything different".

Main image: Children walking to school with their parents in London, England in November 2018. Picture by: Jonathan Goldberg / Alamy Stock Photo

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Department Of Education Dublin Henry McKean Met Eireann School Closures Storm Barra The Hard Shoulder Weather Warning

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