Bishop of Killaloe Dr Willie Walsh has been criticised by a Co Clare school principal for failing to provide a site for a new school.
Gary Stack, principal of Ennis National School, accused the bishop of walking away from the school after reneging on a promise to provide a preferred alternative school site.
Mr Stack told a meeting of teachers and parents that "on this one occasion" Bishop Walsh was asked to stand up for Ennis National.
"Sadly he didn't, he walked away from it."
He said he didn't want expressions of sorrow from Bishop Walsh but action. At the end of a 30-minute address Mr Stack received a standing ovation from 200 parents who unanimously agreed to reject Dr Walsh's decision that a new school be built on the existing site.
Three years ago Dr Walsh gave a written undertaking to Ennis National School that the diocese would make a greenfield site available for a new school within the grounds of St Flannan's College in Ennis.
Currently the 706 pupils are educated in cramped conditions in 13 prefabs.
However, Dr Walsh withdrew his guarantee to provide the site after reports from the Department of Education, and a consultant's report commissioned by the bishop, recommended that the school should not move to the new site. St Flannan's College was also opposed to the move.
The Department of Education said relocation to an alternative site would remove the school from the heart of the community.
Bishop Walsh was unavailable for comment yesterday.
