Walking tall: Three Cork students top Leaving Cert results table with nine A1s

Alan Good and Niall Murray

Susan Spillane, Laura Hurley and Peter Barrett, who are all friends, despite attending different schools, were astounded to see nine higher-level A1s on their results slips yesterday. Such high grades have only been achieved once before.

According to Cashman’s Bookmakers on Maylor Street, Cork, the odds of the top three students coming from the same county, attending different schools, but all knowing each other personally are 2,500/1.

Peter, 19, from Maryborough in Douglas, was delighted with his marks and said his mother Eithne was over the moon.

“I just rang her as she was coming out of Mass and she said she was going to go back in again,” said Peter, who studied at Presentation College and plans to study medicine at University College Cork.

While he was one of almost 600 students to sit nine subjects in June, Peter said it is not something he strongly advises.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Laura Hurley from Bishopstown, a pupil at Mount Mercy College, is preparing to study economics at Cambridge University after getting nine A1s.

“I wasn’t expecting to do this well, and to get my course in Cambridge I needed A1s in applied maths, physics and chemistry, which I never thought would happen,” said Laura.

“I’ll miss Cork. Up until today I thought I’d be staying here, but my brother is already studying out there and I’m pretty excited about it.”

Susan Spillane from Rochestown, a pupil at St Angela’s College, said the best thing about her results was knowing she doesn’t have to wait for Monday’s first round CAO offers.

“I’m really surprised, but it’s great to know that I have my course and don’t have to be worrying on Monday,” said Susan, who will study pharmacy in UCC.

“My advice to anyone doing the Leaving next year would be to only do subjects you like. Some of my friends did things they weren’t interested in and ended up giving them up,” she said.

There was further joy in Cork with the news that St Aloysius, Carrigtwohill student Kathleen Fitzgerald, from Knockraha, got eight A1s. Kathleen is also one of the country’s top young athletes, having represented Ireland in shot putt.

“It was a tough load to carry, mixing athletics with academics, I tried to juggle everything but I never expected to do this well,” said Kathleen, who, like Susan, will study pharmacy at UCC.

The first round of offers will be issued by the Central Applications Office next Monday.