Celebration on the double for twins

TWINS David and Elaine McCarthy had 15 good reasons to celebrate last night. Between them, they scored that many As in the Leaving Certificate.

The 18-year-olds from Innishannon were overjoyed at the results, which should guarantee them their chosen college courses.

David studied at Hamilton High School in Bandon and ended up with 6A1s and 3A2s, giving him 600 points, sufficient to secure a place on the actuarial and financial science course in UCD.

Sister Elaine sat the Leaving at Coláiste na Toirbhirte in Bandon and got 580 points with her 4A1s and two A2s, which should see her studying applied psychology at UCC next autumn.

David said he was shocked by his results, but he had worked hard for the last few years.

“I’m looking forward to going to Dublin for four years, it’ll be something different to do and I can still come home at weekends,” said David, who’s working in a factory to help pay for college.

The twins said they are not competitive when it comes to study but can often help each other out if one has a difficulty.

“It’s probably been a help more than anything having two of us doing the Leaving, even though we studied separately,” said Elaine.

David’s classmate at Hamilton High School, Michael White from Bandon, also got maximum points with his seven A1s, after returning from the World Physics Olympiad in Taiwan yesterday morning.

Colm Murphy, son of Cork GAA physio Dr Con Murphy, had a similar set of results awaiting him when he returned to Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh yesterday morning.

Greg Nason was another student with 600 points and was full of praise for the staff at Christian Brothers College in Cork City.

“They were fantastic teachers, they work really hard and they’re very encouraging.

“The work of teachers isn’t often recognised and it should be,” said Greg, who has moved to Dublin where he hopes to study medicine at Trinity College.

Vera Coughlan, a student of St Aloysius’ College in Carrigtwohill, is also Trinity-bound to study German and Law with her 600 points.

On similar marks were Bruce College Cork graduates Tamara Ní hIcí from Carraig na bhFear and Listowel woman Mary Ann Barry who did the Leaving Cert for a second time in the hope of doing a medicine degree.

At Hewitt College, almost two-thirds of students got over 400 points, more than 20 got over 500 points and some repeat students improved by 200 points.

Cork College of Commerce student Jennifer Brown was over the moon with her 6A1s 570 points total, which she hopes will be enough to allow her study pharmacy at UCC.