Future begins as students get a result

STUDENTS across Ireland were pondering their futures today after the nail-biting wait for exam results finally ended.

In its first hour of operation, the State Examinations Commission website was accessed by around 5,000 students checking their grades. Hundreds of school leavers and their parents also called exam helplines being operated by members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.

For many, the grades opened doors which could never have been imagined, among them being Liam Brady. The 20-year-old Dubliner had taken the Leaving Certificate twice at two different schools before finally making the grade this year at O’Connell’s CBS.

“It is the first time I got what I wanted and passed everything - six subjects. I have really mixed emotions,” he said.

Over a month ago, Liam had no prospects but now he plans to study business at the Institute of Technology in Tallaght.

“This has been the best year of my life so far. I’ve met so many people, the teachers here put in a lot of effort and made me study hard, but it was worth it,” Liam said.

The north inner city school has a high proportion of foreign nationals, most of whom have to work incredibly hard to achieve passes despite being ineligible for university places.

Ndumiso Mhlanga moved to Ireland alone from his native Zimbabwe in 2001, when he was just 15. He studied for his exams while living in a hostel and is now planning to become an accounting technician after passing all five of his subjects.

“It was really tough but the hardest thing is not having somewhere to move onto when it’s all over,” he said. “I’m unlikely to get sponsors for third level but I got a B2 in accountancy and I hope to get onto a college course by September,” he said.

Another elated student was Cork minor footballer Kevin O’Halloran who was delighted to see six A1s on his results sheet. But the young sports star faces another tough test when he lines out in the All-Ireland semi-final against Laois in Thurles on Sunday. One of his classmates Sean O’Reilly was also celebrating after scoring maximum points for college entry.