Madam, – Ferdinand Von Prondzynski named Leitrim as a county that is still a “virtual no-go area for higher education” (Education Today, April 26th). I would like to point out that Leitrim always scores well when it comes to attaining third-level education. An Irish Times survey in 2008 showed that Lough Allen College in Drumkeerin and my old school Marian College Mohill had a 100 per cent rate of students reaching third-level. Other secondary schools in the county also fared well: Fatima Felim’s Secondary School in Ballinamore (98 per cent), Mohill Vocational School (96 per cent), St Clare’s Comprehensive, Manorhamilton (88 per cent) and Carrick-on-Shannon Community School (86 per cent).
I would also like to point out that Leitrim’s population is the smallest in Ireland at less than 30,000. So, if Mr Von Prondzynski doesn’t see many Leitrim students in Dublin universities, maybe he should take a lesson in Irish geography! – Yours, etc,