Today on Newstalk Daily, Ciara Doherty explores a fast-growing alternative to traditional education in Ireland: homeschooling. With more parents asking “how does homeschooling work in Ireland?” and whether it can really replace the classroom, we look at what life outside the school gates actually looks like. 

Ciara is joined by Anna Uí Dhálaigh, who, together with her husband Peadar, has been homeschooling their three children in Ireland for several years. Anna explains how her family approaches unschooling, why they chose to step away from conventional schools, and what home education means in practice - from creative writing at the kitchen table to gymnastics, reading and sports. 

In this podcast we tackle some of the biggest questions parents have: 

– Is homeschooling regulated in Ireland, and how are children assessed? 

– Do homeschooled kids become socially isolated, or do they thrive in new ways? 

– What are the financial and logistical challenges of home education? 

Anna also works with the Home Education Network (HEN Ireland), supporting other families who want to explore homeschooling. You can find more at henireland.org. 

We’d love to hear from you — are you considering home education in Ireland, or do you have your own homeschooling story to share? Email us at newstalkdaily@newstalk.com.