No waiting around for Jack as he bypasses CAO

AS tens of thousands of school-leavers wait nervously for the first round of college offers on Monday morning, Jack O’Callaghan is resting on his laurels.

The 18-year-old from Ballincollig, Co Cork, is preparing to start a degree in radiography at the University of Exeter in Cornwall, where he was offered a place on Thursday.

Jack links his interest in the career to having arm injuries X-rayed over the years. But he knew he wouldn’t get the minimum 525 points — at least five B1s and an A2 in higher-level Leaving Certificate subjects — that was needed last year for the only course offered in Ireland, at University College Dublin.