I couldn’t believe it, says 15-A student

TOP marks in the Junior Cert went to Cork, which has claimed five of the eight students with 12 or more higher level As in their exams this year.

One pupil from Scoil Mhuire in Cork, Áine Hurley, said she was “thrilled” at having received an astonishing 15 As.

“When I got the envelope with my results, I didn’t know whether I should open it. When I did and I saw that I got As in both Irish and English – which I didn’t think I had done well in – I was thrilled. Then I looked at the rest of the results, I couldn’t believe it.”

Áine, whose subjects included seven languages – Irish, English, German, French, Latin, Italian and Spanish – added that she was intending to keep up higher level maths for her Leaving Certificate when the time comes.

“I will probably keep up French, music, Latin and higher level maths, even if I have to drop an extra subject because of it.”

In Fermoy’s Loreto Convent, Eíbhlín Lonergan was also celebrating her results after achieving a total of 13 As in her exams.

“I did 13 subjects – 11 in school. I had been unsure about English, history and geography so I was very nervous with the build-up to the results – it’s a big relief.”

Two pupils from Coláiste Chríost Rí in Cork were also celebrating tremendous results, after both achieved 12 As.

Connor Hogan said that he was “over the moon” with his accomplishment.

“I was excited but not nervous because I had put in a lot of work, I knew the results would look after themselves. I hadn’t been expecting to do well in science so I am delighted with that.”

Connor’s classmate Eoghan Linehan, who also achieved an impressive 12 As, said he was amazed, having found the religion exam particularly difficult.

“I wasn’t happy on the day with the religion exam so I’m shocked – it’s hard to believe.”

At Mount Mercy College in Cork, Niamh Buttimer was also ecstatic at having achieved 12 As.

“I wasn’t expecting an A in Irish or English... my friends and my parents are delighted for me.”

In Tralee, Co Kerry, pupils and teachers at the Presentation Secondary School were celebrating the success of student Aisling Moriarty, whose hard work had rewarded her with a result of 12 higher level As.

Outside of Munster, Maria Regan from the Holy Rosary College in Galway and Maria Byrne from Loreto Secondary School in Dublin also had much to celebrate, having both achieved 12 As.