Edel thrilled with her six A1s

Neans McSweeney

The bold print on the transcript from the Department of Education was testament to her hard work. It showed she had been awarded the maximum of 600 points with six A1s in higher-level English, Irish, Maths, French, Biology and Chemistry, as well as a B1 in

Music.

"I had absolutely no idea I would do so well," she said.

"I really thought some of the papers were terrible. Like everybody else, I didn't like the Biology paper in particular. The honours Maths is always tough. I'm so absolutely thrilled."

The excitement in the Quinn home on the Kilkenny side of the Waterford border was incredible yesterday. There were shouts of delight as the news was relayed home.

"I had hoped to do Medicine in Cork. It was my first choice on my CAO form. I should get it now. It's great because a few of my friends also hope to go to Cork. We're all hoping to get in and we're all thrilled with our grades."

Now 17, Edel said the secret of her success was staying cool even during the toughest and roughest of papers.

"I'm definitely going to the match on Sunday to see Kilkenny play Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final. I'm hoping that my winning streak will keep going until then and that we will win."

Mercy Secondary School principal Michael Lane was thrilled with the performance of the school's 116 girls.

Principal at Ardscoil na nDeise in Dungarvan, Margaret O'Brien, was also over the moon. One of her students got seven A1s, and she said this year's exam class was particularly good.

The atmosphere was electric at CBS in Tramore. Students there took a computers course in association with the University of Limerick and performed exceptionally well.

And at St Augustine's College, Fr Moran was also thrilled and congratulated his students on their results.