One of the most momentous events in the history of the Irish State occurred 60 years ago this month when the buccaneering minister for education Donogh O’Malley stunned everybody, including his government colleagues, by announcing the introduction of free education.

There was consternation by the Department of Finance, which had been kept in ignorance of his planned announcement, despite the huge implications for the exchequer. And there was initial scepticism about whether O’Malley would be able to deliver on his promise. This was reflected in the report of the speech by The Irish Times, and the reaction of many involved in education.

However, despite all the misgivings, free secondary education and a national system of school transport were introduced the following year. The impact on the country was transformational.

At a recent seminar, an international expert was asked why Ireland had moved from being one of the poorest countries in Europe in the 1960s to one of the richest today. Unsurprisingly, he referenced membership of the European Union, but he also cited the country’s education system as one of the top three reasons for the transformation.

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