DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER Council behind Keep Well Campaign Page 4
Zoe new trad musician in residence Page 6
Leaving Cert clarity needed
Local athletes maintain focus Page 9
Wednesday, 27th January, 2021. Vol. 14, Issue 4 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
By Paul Byrne
De La Salle student Geordan Richardson has called for an end to the uncertainty which is placing added stress to this year’s Leaving Cert exams. Geordan, from Dundalk, considers himself to be one of the luckier ones given the fact he has access to fast reliable broadband and a laptop to call his own. However, he is quick to point out that not everybody is afforded this luxury and he claims that many students including himself are desperate for some sort of clarity with regards to whether or not there will be a traditional Leaving Certificate this year. “We are unfortunate as we have now had disruptions to our senior cycle in both fifth year and sixth year and the whole thing adds more stress to what is already a difficult time for students. We are already at a disadvantage to previous leaving cert students and although the teachers in De La Salle are doing an excellent job this term with regards to online learning there is unfortunately no substitute for in class teaching in my opinion,” stated Geordan. Continued on Page 2
Student nurses must be treated with respect Both Peter Fitzpatrick and Ruairí O’Murchú have spoken out in support this week of a Sinn Fein motion to treat nurses and midwives fairly. The motion which called for the review on allowances to immediately be published for fourth year interns to be paid at the healthcare assistant rate, and for third years to be offered temporary healthcare assistant contracts while placements are suspended. Continued on Page 2
De La Salle sixth year student Geordan Richardson with his mother Mary.