Cork and Tipp tops when it comes to exams All-Ireland

If this was an All-Ireland, both Tipperary and Cork would each be celebrating three-in-a-row right now.

The latest Junior Certificate results show that 19 students nationwide put 12 higher-level As in the back of the net.

Tipp shares the lead, with students from three schools achieving that distinction, among them The Abbey CBS in Tipperary Town and the Loreto Secondary school in Clonmel. The county beats Cork on goal average, though, as the Ursuline Convent in Thurles alone has three students with 12 As.

Principal Mary Butler couldn’t be happier.

“It was amazing to be told that, of the 19 children in the country with 12 As, we were the only school with three students who achieved that.”

She is delighted not only for the high achievers, but also for the more academically challenged students who exceeded expectations.

Paying tribute to her predecessor, Sr Berchmans, who had imbued the school with a culture of hard work, Ms Butler, herself a past pupil, added: “We always hope that the children will reach their potential. while we, of course, celebrate the amazing 12As, we are also mindful of those for whom school is a struggle and congratulate them on their efforts and their results.”

Ms Butler described each of the three 12A girls in glowing terms. “Cáit Ryan, from Upperchurch, is an amazing character, with a love of sport and music and she comes from a very talented family. Leah Carroll, from Fennor, just outside Thurles, is a terrific musician who plays in an orchestra and sings with a choir. Simone Gordon, from Roscreagh, is a dedicated book person but also has lots of interests, including tennis. Each of those girls is well rounded, which is as important as any academic achievement.”

To prove the point, Ms Butler pointed to the next big test for the school: Putting on the musical Oklahoma, “an old favourite.”

That mix of serious work and serious fun was evident in other schools that did well, particularly in Cork where notable results abounded.

Among the 12-As students was Cut Aina Hannisa from Douglas. Half Indonesian, half German but 100% Irish, the high achiever, who attends Regina Mundi College in Douglas in Cork City, has high ideas for the future.

“I want to go to Harvard,” she says, “and after that I would love to become a Supreme Court judge.”

An only child, Aina credits her success to the help of those close to her, including her teachers, friends and especially her mother.

“I did not do it all myself. What mattered was having the right people around me to push me on.”

School principal, Margaret Corcoran, was equally delighted, describing Aina as an all-rounder who played the piano, violin, and harpsichord. “She is a gorgeous girl in every way. She has great ability but is also very sociable and much loved by her friends.”

She also acknowledged the achievements of all her students. “We got great results overall and I am very proud of them. It is in large measure thanks to the care and professionalism of the teachers.”

Another all-girl school, St Aloysius College in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, is also toasting academic success. Deirdre Keane from Montenotte achieved 12 As, along with Emma Creaner from Cobh on 11 and Faye Cooney, from Carrigtwohill, with 10. “We have had fantastic success,” said PRO Donal Ó Murchú. “The results overall have been phenomenal.”

That view was echoed by school principal Tony Lee, who was particularly proud of the achievement of St Als’ special needs students who had surpassed expectations and gave impetus to the school’s open enrolment policy.

“Overall, the results far exceeded the national average in all subjects,” said Mr Lee, who put the overall results down to a troika of first-rate teachers, supportive parents and able students.

Another all-girls school in Cork City, Mount Mercy College, also had a student with 12 As. Kate Henry from Ballincollig was described by principal Pádraigín Uí Ríordáin as a hardworking student who well deserved her result.

“The results, overall, were fantastic,” she said. “Apart from the 12 As, we had three with 11 As, five with 10, and I’ve given up counting the number with nine As.”

In Kerry, 16-year-old Claire Crowley, a student at the all-girls Presentation Secondary School in Tralee, also achieved 12 As. Claire, from Ardfert near Tralee, said yesterday she was “shocked, dumbfounded”.

This is the second big achievement of the school this summer: Just last month, a student from Presentation in Tralee, Caoimhe Normile, was among three students in the country to score the highest grades in the Leaving Certificate.

In Limerick, Lucy McLoughlin was top of her class after scoring 10 As in her Junior Cert exams. The 15-year-old who attends Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh was thrilled with her results.

“I didn’t believe it, I thought there was some mistake but I’m thrilled and I’m really looking forward to celebrating with my friends.”

Four other students at the school received nine As and one B, in what school principal Donnacha O’Treasaigh said was the school’s best ever Junior Cert result.