The founding committee of the gaelscoil in Dunboyne, Co Meath, has supported the board of management in the dispute that led to the sacking of the school's principal, writes Alison Healy
The board of the interdenominational Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg precured the dismissal of its principal, Mr Tomás Ó Dúlaing, this week following a conflict over the teaching of religion.
Mr Ó Dúlaing had argued that the points of difference between Catholic and Church of Ireland religions should be taught outside school hours.
However, the board of management and the school's patron body said the religions should be taught fully within school hours.
In a statement yesterday, the school's four founding members shared the board's view.
Ms Carol Molloy, Ms Berni Prendiville, Ms Gráinne McDonnell and Mr Christy O'Sullivan said the majority of parents had opted for an interdenominational ethos when the school was being set up in 1998.
"Each option was explained fully and our understanding of interdenominationalism was that all pupils would receive full instruction in both religions chosen by the parent body - in our case Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland - and that the religions chosen would be fully taught to all pupils within school hours," the statement said.
"Therefore, from the outset, it was made clear to all what an interdenominational school was to be."
Any subsequent changes to this ethos would require full consensus and patron approval, they said. When candidates were interviewed for the post of principal in July 1998, the concept of interdenominationalism was explained to them.
The founding members said they had such hopes and aspirations for the school but now felt it had been "let down and exploited" by the dispute.
"We had dared to hope that an interdenominational school would unite and not divide. It is tragic indeed that the school is now in crisis.
"We would urge all within the school community to rekindle the true spirit of interdenominationalism within the school, heal the divisions and rebuild the school for the sake of the children, who, after all, are the real victims of this dispute."
The dispute at the school has caused great bitterness among parents, who are now divided into two camps on the issue.
Also this week, the board of management complained that the media had misrepresented many aspects of the case and said it was sad that religion had been exploited in the dispute.