There are winners and losers in exams as there are in life, but there appeared to be precious few losers from yesterday’s Leaving Certificate results.
Pupils at schools visited by The Irish Times appeared to be happy with their results and, if they were not happy, they were making a good effort at showing a brave face to the world.
Their reactions reflected the nationwide picture that results were good this year, although not as good as last year judging by the number of A grades.
A yelp of delight alerted fellow students to Aoife Lydon's Leaving Cert success at Regina Mundi College in Cork.
Students gathered at the Douglas school to receive their results in person from principal Margaret Corcoran, who totted up their points.
Aoife (18) had her mother, Aideen Lydon, by her side in a secluded corridor to peruse her 540 points.
“I knew I did okay but I was worried about maths – this is such a big relief,” she said.
“It’s incredible,” her mother added. “I was more nervous than she was, she’s worked so hard.”
Amy Keane (18) from Blackrock in Cork was awake from 5.30am suffering from nerves but was ecstatic to clock up 570 points.
The result leaves her with points to spare for her chosen college course, biomedical science, at University College Cork.
“It’s so stressful, I couldn’t eat. The worst was sitting waiting for the results. I can relax now it’s finally over,” she said.
All-round academic and sports achiever Ailish Naughton scored seven A1s and two A2s at the Holy Child Secondary School, Killiney, Co Dublin, Her proud mother, Marian, said she was "very, very pleased". She now expects a move to TCD to study medicine and is "looking forward to her offer on Monday".
Happy with biology
Nadine Lyons (18) was among the first to collect her results at Breifne College in Cavan town.
“I’m absolutely thrilled, can’t believe I got an A1 in art. I’m so happy with biology because I was adamant I failed it. I want to do Irish and English in either DCU or St Pat’s – keep my options open.”
Chloe Reilly (17) said she was delighted with her 5Bs and 2Cs. "I want to do law and Irish in DCU so I think I have enough points."
Cousins Shannon Morgan (18) and Cian Donohoe (19) went to collect their results together.
“We went to preschool, primary and secondary together so we had to collect our results together today,” Shannon said.
Johnny Cusack (17) said he was delighted with the bonus points he received from sitting higher-level maths.
“Those 25 points will definitely come in handy. I hope to do science in DIT but we’ll see what happens when the offers come out.”
In Ballyfermot’s St Joseph’s school, principal Anne Marie Leonard said she was very pleased with the results of both the Leaving Cert and the Leaving Cert Applied at the all-boys school.
“They are happy with what they have achieved in the exams. The students are really focused. I’m here 18 years and the lads are very focused on going to college because of the recession.”
Pause for thought
The recession had given many of those who would have normally entered the workforce early pause for thought.
“There is a huge awareness about going to college and putting in the work to get there,” Ms Leonard added.
Dean Cullen (17) got a merit in the Leaving Certificate Applied and is going on to study photography at St Kevin's College.
“I passed maths, though. I always found maths a struggle, but I got on well with it today.”
