Top marks for talented nine
The perfect Junior Certificate scores include 11 As in higher-level subjects and an A in civic, social and political education (CSPE) which is only examined at one common level.
For one Kildare student, the feat was all the more remarkable for the fact that all her subjects, with the exception of English, were taken through Irish.
Deirdre Ní Riain, from Newbridge, is a student at Gael-Choláiste Chill Dara in The Curragh and was one of just 15 students who did the Junior Certificate there.
“They’re all a great bunch of youngsters and obviously Deirdre’s results stand out today,” said her principal Seamus O Ceanainn.
Shauna Keniry, from Killeagh and a student at St Aloysius College in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, was also celebrating the same feat.
“I’m delighted. I’m just really happy with my results and I’m so grateful to my teachers for their work in all subjects over the last three years,” she said.
In Tralee, Co Kerry, former Young Scientist of the Year Emer Jones was also celebrating at the Presentation Secondary School. She became the science competition’s youngest overall winner and the first from Kerry last year, and she was thrilled with her exam results.
Emer said she “definitely” did not study all the time and that she loved music and relaxing, which included the odd walk.
Karine Ronan from Fethard, Co Tipperary, who is a boarder student at the Urusline Secondary School in Thurles, was delighted with her 12 As.
“I was shocked really. I didn’t expect to have done this good at all,” she said.
Sinéad Cornyn was confident arriving at St Peter’s College in Dunboyne, Co Meath, that she might have the 12As, but she was still nervous getting her results.
“I didn’t really study until three weeks before the exam, but I just always did my homework and it seems to have paid off,” Sinéad said, before heading to the bowling alley in Blanchardstown to celebrate with her friends.
Waterford student Diarmuid Brennan made it a double for De La Salle College in the city yesterday when he notched up 12 As in the Junior Certificate, less than a month after Aidan Morris celebrated eight A1s in his Leaving Certificate at the school.
“I found the exams easy, but I’m still surprised at how well I’ve done,” Diarmuid said.
Another Kildare student, Aisling Ní Chatháin, was also celebrating 12 As which she achieved at Maynooth Post Primary School, as were Ludivine Rebep at Loreto College, Foxrock, in Dublin and Pauric Donnelly at St Patrick’s College in Cavan Town.
