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SOME CHILDREN REVEL in it, while others cling onto a parent’s leg with as much might that is needed to pierce a Capri Sun. But no matter what the reaction, a child’s first day in Junior Infants is a momentous one for the whole family.
Photographers Laura Hutton and Mark Stedman were in two Dublin schools today to document the occasion, while many of TheJournal.ie readers sent in some snaps of their little ones taking a giant leap onto the education ladder.
As thousands of CAO applicants wave goodbye to school today, these children are only just starting out:
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I remember my first day at primary school, I cried and cried and wanted to go home to my mammy, but the other teachers all told me that was what the job is like and to get back to teaching third class.
It is an emotional time for the children and also the parents. They all did very well and I hope they all have a great year
Young fella there has a great name – Lucas Stout!
It’s Lucas Keogh and thank you. Thats ma boy!! :)
There’s a Lucas Stout in the 9th pic
Damn..so there is and far FAR cooler than Keogh..love it!!
Must have been a proud day for you Darren, your kid looks really happy. Nice pic :-)
yeah, he had a great day thanks.. spanky brand new school, builders sweeping the carpark as we were bringing him in this morning. all modern and flash. nice to see a bit of tax money spent well in these times.
I wish them all the best of luck starting school, I hope they make lot’s of new friend’s esp Lucas Keogh who live’s up the road from me. Such a lovely well mannered young man
You’re welcome to the tax money Darren. We’ll just euthanise our elderly and save on their care.
My little girl started today and all I can say is :-( I’m so sad . Il miss her so much and feel terrible that the time has come whereby Monday to Friday is where somebody else is a major influence in her life. She loved school today but I’m devastated :,-(
quadruplets? that sounds like a fun pregnancy!
Yeah Abi
Rather her than me!!!
yes, but aren’t they just gorgeous ! so happy looking, great photos.
Wait til they’re doing the Leaving Cert… There will be even more tears then! :O
Yea but sure they’ll all go and get pissed anyway afterwards
Gas! things don’t change much do they??? I remember my first day in school well (it must have been a traumatic experience) many, many, MANY moons ago, the memory consists mostly of stickle bricks and these funny little star shaped things you used to connect straws together to build things.
Wonderful wonderful pics, takes me back with a tear in my eye! Mine now 23 and 25, finished college did well etc… it’s a hard time for all!
Lots of tears on the first day back for us as well. Then I told the Mammies and Daddies to stop crying and go home and that everything would be grand and it was… School is a much nicer place now than it was when today’s parents were children.
fantastic pictures, very touching ,great kids
The child that walks in and doesn’t look back is the happy confident child…..
i cant understand why people are disliking these comments some people are jus ignorant
Sometimes the dislikes are by accident. If your using a touch phone it’s very easy to hit dislike while trying to scroll through the comments.
lovely, my comment was deleted.
fascists.
We *could* leave your original comment up, Jimmy, and you could see what the other commenters think of it but I don’t think you’d have much joy there either.
Not fascism – just a bit of respect for the little ones.
Thanks, Susan, Editor.
Great piece Journal and some wonderful photos! You really caught the emotions of the day thats in it and I too felt emotional looking at them. Bless their little cotton socks.
Lovely pictures.
Sweet!
I’ll be having a conversation with my mam later over a cup of tea about my first day now! Can remember very little and not sure if I cried or not!
man here in kerry killorglin only on TUE school starts i guess its the only school in the country ahhhhh!!! ;-)
How many children started school on an empty stomach?
yes theres plenty of happy irish children, bit of a stupid question really
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