‘Tara would have been very happy with results’

Neans McSweeney, South-East Correspondent

Tara Whelan's distraught father, Tony, arrived at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School early yesterday morning to collect his late daughter's results. He arrived far ahead of most others.

The transcript showed the youngest of his five children had well over 200 points plenty to sail into Hotel and Catering at Waterford Institute of Technology. The cut-off points for the course were expected to be up from 210 last year.

Accompanying the print-out of her results was a special letter from the Department of Education and Science, commiserating her heart-broken family and congratulating them on the bubbly young woman's results.

Her heart-broken mother, Frances, said she couldn't even open the envelope. "Tony went in and got the results this morning. He looked at them alright. Tara would have been very happy with them. They're inside in her room.

"I can't even open them. It's still very raw. It hasn't gotten easier. We're trying to keep busy, but its very tough," Mrs Whelan added.

There were mixed emotions at Tara's school. Lighting candles were placed in front of a picture of a smiling Tara in her sky-blue school jumper.

Students touched her picture and smiled, desperately trying to keep back the tears.

Among the early arrivals for their results were twins, Lyndsey and Tracy Galgey. They had been with Tara on the holiday that turned to tragedy on July 16 last.

"I went to Tara's grave last night and talked to her about the results. I was very worried about my business paper but got a B. How Tara will be laughing at me today," a tearful Tracey Galgey said.

School principal Michael Lane said there were mixed emotions among the 144 girls who called to collect their results at the school high up over Waterford city.

"It's an incredibly difficult day for everyone, particularly for Tony and Frances Whelan, their sons and daughters. All of our thoughts and prayers are with them. Nobody here will ever, ever forget Tara.

"The department put a lovely letter in with her results. We hope it will be a comfort to her family."

Among those celebrating at the convent school yesterday was local girl Jenna White. Her results didn't really matter as she got the break of a life-time last week she's been chosen to dance in Jean Butler's Rhythm of the Dance show.

"I'm off to Denmark next month and will then spend six weeks in the US with the show. It's what I always wanted. The results didn't really matter but I did really well and am delighted."