Mixed feelings over first maths papers

SIXTH-YEAR students at St Finbarr’s College in Farranferris, Cork, had mixed feelings about yesterday morning’s maths papers.

They are the last group to sit the Leaving Certificate at the famous school which is the alma mater of some of Cork’s most famous sons, including broadcaster Bill O’Herlihy, composer Seán Ó Riada, former AIB boss Michael Buckley and a host of All-Ireland winning hurlers.

Malcolm O’Brien was among those who are sad the college is being closed.

“We’ve been here for six years. There were no teachers, they were all our friends, it’s a brilliant school,” he said.

He was happy with the way things went in yesterday morning’s first maths paper.

“I’m doing ordinary level and I thought it was easy enough. I’d say anybody who did a small bit of stuff should do all right in it.”

Another ordinary level student, Owen Hyde, thought some parts were easy but others were tough.

“I think the first maths exam is always harder so the second one on Monday should be better,” he said.

While many students will finish the Leaving Certificate next week, Owen finishes on June 21 with classical studies.

He doesn’t mind too much because he expects to well in it.

Another Farranferris student with a long wait to the last exam is Declan Coleman, whose applied maths paper is in a fortnight’s time.

He thought yesterday’s higher level maths paper was very hard.

“I got parts of lots of questions done and I stayed right to the end. I thought it would be much easier than it turned out.

“I’m hoping to do a sports studies degree at UCC next year so hopefully I’ll get the points.

“Maybe the second maths paper on Monday won’t be as hard,” he said.

Eoin Stephens also sat the higher level Leaving Certificate maths paper and was quite pleased with it at lunchtime yesterday.

“It was grand, the (a) parts were too hard in places but the (c) questions were all right compared to previous years,” said Eoin, who hopes to study business at Cork Institute of Technology.