A primary school has apologised to parents after a guest speaker at a school Mass criticised divorce, used the term “gender benders”, and questioned the choice of a non-binary artist to represent Ireland in Eurovision.
The principal of Gaelscoil Uí Riada in Cork, and the chairman of its board of management, have now requested a meeting with Bishop Fintan Gavin to discuss the incident, which prompted a number of people to walk out in protest.
“The comments caused a lot of upset and ruined what was an otherwise lovely event,” one parent told the Irish Examiner.
Another Mass-goer said: “It was supposed to be a Mass celebrating grandparents and the connection with their grandchildren, and this speaker's opening gambit was to tell the children to 'téar a chodladh’ [go to sleep] — it was so dismissive.
“And then the content of the talk, in this context, was most inappropriate. It has caused hurt and division.”
Students of the school, which is under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross, attended the special Mass at St Joseph’s Church in Wilton on Tuesday.
Towards the end of the ceremony, celebrant and parish priest Fr Michael O’Leary invited the guest speaker to address the congregation from the altar. It is understood that he expected the speaker to talk about intergenerational faith issues. Fr O'Leary declined to comment to the Irish Examiner on Thursday.
However, parents said the man embarked on a near-20-minute address, during which he said society is falling apart and that some people have used divorce to manage chaos in their lives.
He criticised homosexuality and was highly critical of Ireland's choice of Bambie Thug for Eurovision, using the phrase “gender benders” in his talk.
In an email to parents later, school principal Breanndán Ó Gréilligh and board of management chairman Séamus Ó Rinn apologised.
A spokesperson for the diocese confirmed that following a request from the board of management, Bishop Fintan Gavin will meet representatives of the board "at the earliest possible opportunity in the coming days".
