Sir, – I was very sorry to hear of the planned closure of Carlow College.
I finished secondary school in 2003 and, for various reasons, my Leaving Certificate did not go the way I had hoped. After I took a year out, Carlow College gave me an opportunity to continue my education and ultimately become an English teacher.
What struck me most about the college was how personal it was. Students were not simply numbers on a register. Lecturers knew us, challenged us and took a genuine interest in how we were getting on. It was only later, when I moved on to postgraduate study elsewhere, that I realised how rare that experience had become.
Carlow College also opened doors academically. I arrived with a love of English literature, but I left with a much broader interest in history, culture and the humanities in general. It was a place that encouraged people to think, discuss and question.
RM Block
Its closure would be a significant loss, not just for Carlow but for the wider southeast. For many years, the college has provided opportunities for students whose potential may not have been reflected in a set of examination results at 17 or 18 years of age. Many have gone on to successful careers in teaching, journalism, social care, public service and countless other fields.
The college has also been part of the fabric of Carlow town for generations, contributing economically, socially and culturally to the local community.
At a time when we speak so much about widening access to education, it seems strange that an institution which has been quietly doing exactly that for so long should be allowed disappear.
Carlow College gave me a chance when other options were limited. I know I am far from the only one who can say that. Its closure may make sense on a balance sheet, but it makes far less sense when measured against its educational, cultural and social contribution to Ireland. – Yours, etc,
EOIN MURRAY
Secondary schoolteacher,
Ardee,
Co Louth.
