Trim twins 'reunited' again
A Trim mum who was left distraught after just one of her twin sons got a place in a local secondary school while the other was rejected says her family is overjoyed that both boys have now been accepted to the school.
Adri O'Dea says son Aidan who was refused a place in Boyne Community School in Trim due to oversubscription was thrilled to learn that he could now join his brother Cian in September following the news that additional resources will be put in place to accommodate students for September 2020.
The news marks the end of months of stress and uncertainty for the family.
Mum Adri had vowed that her sons would not be separated, even if that meant finding a new school for both of them, she now says that the family can 'breathe easier' knowing both boys will attend school together.
"The boys are relieved so happy that they will be going to the same school and Cian is excited that he can finally start looking forward to going to secondary school.
He was so worried before and he didn't want to go to a school that didn't want his brother. It has been really unfair to them but now we can look to the future."
Adri O'Dea pictured with sons, Cian and Aidan
Ms O'Dea described being shocked to receive two letters from the school, one giving one of her sons a place and the other saying the second boy was not accepted.
The twelve-year-old 6th class students, who live just outside Trim and attend St Michael's NS nearby to Boyne Community School, were said to be ‘inconsolable’ at the prospect of being separated while mum Adri pointed out that no indication was given that there were any issues in relation to oversubscription during the application process.
In recent says TD for Meath West Damien English revealed that he had received confirmation from Minister Joe McHugh’s office that additional accommodation would be put in place for Boyne Community School for September 2020.
“We sent in the application form on the open day so we were in plenty of time. I indicated on both of their forms that they were twins."
Additional accommodation is being made available for Boyne Community School for September 2020
Adri was forced to bring Cian for the entrance assessment while a devastated Aidan sat in the car. Speaking at the time she said:
"Aidan feels that the school doesn’t want him, it has created a difficult situation for us as a family.
“The thoughts of them being torn apart is too much to bear, they do everything together.
"It’s just heartbreaking but I’m going to keep fighting for them.
"We were kind of dreading the transition because of all of the uncertainty but now we can start looking forward to it. We are all in a much happier positive place as a family.
"I'm very proud of how the boys handled it, I think they just really grew as people through the whole experience.
"We are delighted with the outcome. It has been a very stressful and trying time for all the families involved in this process since late November. We hope to work with the school and the Department of Education to secure permanent solutions to the capacity issues within the Boyne Community School,” she added.