Sean Duke: 'My parents worked hard to pay the school fees. They died without knowing this act of love had put me in harm's way'

Arriving in Willow Park in 1972, I was merely seven, but my journey began with my parents' commitment to finding a school where trust prevailed among teachers. Leaving the discomfort of my previous school in Lucan, I sought an environment free from fear, particularly after enduring unsettling experiences with a male teacher at my convent school, whose inappropriate behavior left me feeling anxious and wanted to escape.

The transition from my convent school to Willow Park symbolized not just a change in location but a profound shift in my educational experience. The contrast between the oppressive nature of my prior environment, exemplified by a male teacher who exhibited inappropriate conduct and my desire for a safer classroom, guided my parents' choice in seeking out a nurturing and reliable educational institution.

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