Sister Colette Dwyer is a teacher dedicated to providing regular education for Traveller children.
The National Council For Travelling People invited Sister Colette Dwyer to become the full-time national coordinator for the education of Travellers in 1976.
Sister Colette Dwyer is a member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, an international congregation of Catholic women who work in education and health, social work and pastoral ministry.
Originally from Cork, Sr Colette attended university in England, where she trained and worked as a teacher. Upon her return to Ireland in 1967, she saw a clear need for education for Travellers and started evening classes for them at the Holy Child Secondary School in Killiney.
Now based in County Clare, she travels around the country supporting educators in the network of pre-schools, primary schools, junior training centres, training centres and employment centres which she set up to serve the educational needs of Travellers.
At St Kieran's Special National School in Bray children as young as two and a half years attend the preschool. The combination of very large families living in deprivation has an impact on a child’s social and emotional development. Early intervention is key, as
They are just as bright as any other members of the population.
Rose Lamb has been working at St Kieran’s preschool for the past seven years has seen a big change in the attitude of children who now want to come to school.
Maureen Kenny is the principal of St Kieran’s Primary School. She has noted an increase in pupils with health problems caused by inadequate housing. Traveller families living in illegal sites are under constant pressure from authorities to move on. The school attendance of children from these families is erratic and when they do arrive at school they are often very unhappy.
Junior Training Centres offer post-primary education, with an educational programme developed for young Travellers. Sr Colette says they keep coming back because the young people have a connection with the teachers, and the curriculum with an emphasis on practical learning, creative work, music and art.
'A Day In The Life’ was broadcast on 19 June 1985.
