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community because they feared that it would upset parents. Nevertheless, the interviewee had
used Irish members of staff in the past and did not consider that it would be an issue with the
current Head Teacher. Overall, they felt that curriculum time restrictions were the most
serious issue that they faced when trying to promote an Irish dimension in their history
curriculum:
The only problem we have got is time … I don’t want to make it [Irish History] a bolt
on thing. I don’t think that would be very helpful and it would be difficult for the kids
to appreciate the links. We have tried to assimilate it as smoothly as possible but I
must say that time is a problem and, with this [National Curriculum] emphasis on
British i.e. English History, makes it difficult.
The interviewee dealt with this by selecting aspects of Ireland in Schools project resources
and integrating them into their Programme of Study. The overall impression from the third
interviewee was that they were committed to developing an Irish dimension. This was
particularly influenced by pragmatic considerations such as developing the Modern World
Study course at Key Stage 4, links with the university and opportunities to develop materials
to support thinking skills. However, they also believed that it was important to challenge
stereotypical perceptions of the situation in Ireland. They were aware of racism within the
context of this of Irish history.
What underlying threads indicate the way in which this cluster related to the Ireland in
Schools project and the development of an Irish dimension? The role of the co-ordinator was
important in making the initial link and organising the group, but the impetus for curriculum
development appears to have been the support provided by the chairperson together with the
requirements of schools within the group. The primary reason for involvement appears to
have been instrumental in providing a focus for meetings on the part of the co-ordinator or
supporting the School History Project Modern World Study related to Ireland. Their decision