Philip dedicates success to brother who drowned in Shannon

AN 18-year-old student who had to repeat the Leaving Cert after his 16-year-old brother died in a drowning tragedy at Parteen, near Limerick city, was “over the moon” when he opened up his results yesterday.

Philip O’Connor, a student at Limerick CBS Sexton’s Street, recalled that during last year’s examinations, his brother Victor drowned in the River Shannon.

“It was a terrible tragedy for the family and to make Victor proud I was determined to repeat my Leaving Cert and do well.

“I am delighted with my results, including two As and two Bs. I am really over the moon and I’m still in shock,” said Philip.

Son of Philip and Eileen O’Connor, of Ballygrennan Close, Moyross, Philip junior plans to do a computer programming course in the coming year before going to the Limerick Institute of Technology.

“I love computers. They take up most of my time. Anything to do with computers interests me straight away, particularly software designing and internet websites,” he said.

Noel Earlie, principal at Sexton’s Street CBS, was full of praise for Philip’s achievement.

“While we are delighted with the results right across the board, Philip’s achievement following the tragic death of his brother Victor in a double drowning tragedy during last year’s examinations was fantastic,” said Mr Earlie.

Another very happy student, Declan O’Connor, of Mill Road, Corbally, was delighted in obtaining 530 points including three As and three Bs. “I am absolutely thrilled and I plan to do engineering in UCG,” he said.

Sean Cooney, 18, Meelick, Co Clare, emerged the outstanding Leaving Cert student at St Nessan’s College in Moylish with 590 points.

Another big talking point for the staff was the fine achievement of a Hong Kong student, Andy Chan, in passing the Leaving Cert examination.

School principal Margaret McMahon said: “Andy came to the school two years ago with little or no English. He is very good in maths and English, but he had to get extra help with the English language.”