Education Correspondent
At St Mary s Junior School in Dublin’s Rowlagh on Monday, my colleague RTÉ cameraman Mark Ronaghan captured a telling image.
There with me to report on the reopening of schools, Mark filmed as six-year-old Elliemay Devitt burst into her class, hurtled across the room, and threw herself into the lap and arms of her teacher Miss Foley.
Kate Foley, resplendent in celebratory pink, was taken by surprise - almost knocked off balance even - as she attended, down on her hunkers, to two of Elliemay’s classmates. But she responded with care and affection to her pupil’s joyous greeting.