Not just One Direction for Limerick holy communion candidates

First communion is the "only direction" for a Limerick school which has voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the original date for their children's special day, rather than change it due to a clash with a One Direction concert.

Parents at Gaelscoil an Ráithín were asked to decide between two dates for their children’s first communion after three families complained when the original date clashed with a One Direction concert.

A school meeting on Tuesday night became extremely heated when the parents involved insisted that the date be changed – while other parents became incensed at what one described as the “disrespect shown to the blessed sacrament”.

When it was impossible to agree on the alternative May 3rd date, the school meeting was ended.

One Direction will play three gigs in Croke Park from May 23rd-25th as part of their mammoth Where We Are tour.

Children were yesterday sent home with notes asking parents of the 30 families who have children in the holy communion class to vote on a preferred date.

In a statement issued today, the school confirmed that an overwhelming majority of parents have voted to keep with the original date.

“Further to requests from a small number of parents to change the planned date of May 24th next for the reception of holy communion for the first time for our second class pupils, Gaelscoil an Ráithín, in order to reach the fairest outcome for all concerned, balloted parents overnight on this matter,” the statement read.

“The result of that ballot has been overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the original date. Staff, parents and children of Gaelscoil an Ráithín look forward to preparing for this very special celebration,” it concluded.

The controversy in Limerick erupted after a number of schools in Cork and Dublin previously selected holy communion dates to avoid a clash with the sell-out concert series following early representations from both parents and children.

The boy band first played Dublin’s 02 in 2011 as part of the X Factor tour after they finished third in the hit UK talent show.

Tickets for the gigs sold out within minutes of going in sale.