Students can get half their marks in a new Leaving Certificate physical education subject for projects and performances in activities as diverse as sprinting, camogie, orienteering, or jazz dance.

Within an overall picture of points generally falling, there are some trends of note within the annual jungle of statistics surrounding the Central Applications Office (CAO) first-round offers.

Josh Crean is over the moon after hitting all the right notes with Leaving Certificate results to set him on track for a music career.

Eight of the very best Leaving Certificate grades would be the pinnacle of any young person’s achievement, but it doesn’t beat an All-Ireland camogie medal for one Limerick student.

Leaving Certificate 2017 only ended yesterday evening for around 3,500 students of applied maths and religious education.