Around 700 people have attended a protest against education cutbacks in Bantry, Co Cork.
The protest coincided with a visit to the town by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who attended a retirement function for former Fine Gael TDs PJ Sheehan and Jim O'Keeffe.
The group is calling for the reversal of increases in the pupil-teacher ratio in two, three and four-teacher primary schools.
The changes were part of a series of education cuts announced in December's Budget.
An estimated 250 small schools will lose at least one teacher each because of the cutbacks over the next three years, beginning next September.
40 schools in West Cork alone are threatened with losing a teacher. But they have made it clear they will fight to hold what they have.
Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn is considering rescinding cuts to teacher numbers in disadvantaged Deis schools.
