Mammy dropping kids to school in the car

If u living in west of Ireland along coastline it rains almost every day … entirely different to the East

I lived in Galway for a year...right there on Dock Road. It didn't rain everyday but I did enjoy the storms when they came in. Used to love watching the gas tanker come in. I'd then have a pint down in the corner pub. Worked out in Parkmore for the year and not a bother on the kids waiting for the bus on Eyre Sq when it was lashing. Sh!t, I used to wish I was younger when I went down to Monroe's for a pint and see all the kids thrashing around in the Corrib in their kayaks..almost getting washed out to sea past Spanish Arch.

Thought to myself, these little lads are hardy and much braver than the little trogs who jump off the top of Boland's factory into the water in Dublin.

Can't cycle a bike in the rain though....or walk a mile or go out after dark in case you turn into a pumpkin.

And yeah, the weather looks lovely. I've lived between Dublin and Holland for nigh on 20 years. Those kids on their bikes do the same thing when its pissing rain. You got a video of them on a Spring Day. But they don't all just park up their bikes in January and have Daddy drive them when the weather is inclement.

The argument here is that it's too cold or too far to cycle. Someone even said that a mile is too far for someone to cycle. Another claimed that it was pitch dark in December at 16:00. Jesus Christ if that was the case then we'd have to get helicopters to get the pre-Leaving Cert 17 year olds home since secondary school lets out at that time.

Wonder what the Army would think of that...here's your rifle, you're 17....now go and stand there for a few hours. "But sir, it'll be dark soon and my mother says I'm not allowed out after 16:00"

Or the boy scouts....off for the weekend in Larchill at the tender age of 11...."quick..get into the tent and into your sleeping bags in case you melt...it's almost 4 o'clock."

This discussion has descended into FARCE.

Let us step back. The argument was that cars are blocking up the road in order to drop off kids to school. And indeed they are.

I have no problem with a child being taken to school in his or her mothers/father's private vehicle. Many children live in an area where it is not only too far to walk or cycle but the roads are dangerous.

Nobody has disputed that.

My argument is with those who state that it is almost impossible for a 6 year old to cycle a poxy mile...because it's "just too much". My argument continues within the realm that WALKING a mile is too much. We'll continue....a girl can't ride a bike in a skirt because it's too cold (FFS).

Now it's "child abuse" to have a kid walk home from school in the rain. I can see it now....Ronan is flirting around with Aoife under a tree in the drizzle (they're both 14) and Mummy comes racing out "It's raining" get in...it's ten past FOUR. It'l be dark soon"

A 6 year old CAN walk a mile

A 6 year old CAN cycle a mile

A 6 year old CAN read and write

A 6 year old CAN tie his shoe-laces

A 6 year old CAN pull his socks up, pull up his hood if it's rainng and get home.

Just because I and all my friends could do such pathetically simple things doesn't mean that we were tough....as monkeybutter would suggest. Just because I could cycle a bike or swim when I was six means that I walked to school in the snow uphill both ways and dodged IRA snipers or sabre-toothed tigers or zombies.

To all those who think a mile is just too much for a kid....I would like you to find a route of 1760 yards and then put your kid on a bicycle and come back with photos of the kid just falling and dying before the mile mark. Extra points for the little 4 year old sister running behind the bike screaming "take ME"

Further points for the boy coming back on the bike with the little sister on the backer.

Next challenge would be to see if that same kid (nicely wrapped up in the rain ) can make it home without dying.