Third-level education beckons after ‘the worst year and best year all in one’
For Rachel Finn, who topped the bill with 615 points, nutritional science in UCC awaits. The Leaving Cert process was stressful, “but it wasn’t as bad as other people said it was going to be in the end”.
Three other students reached 600 points and beyond; Emma Cahalane with 610 and Alison Peate and Tara O’Driscoll getting 600 each.
Emma has applied for primary teaching in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. She says that teaching is “pretty much all I’ve ever thought of doing”.
Alison is hoping to study law with French in UCC. “It was about 525 last year, so hopefully I’ll have loads for that unless it rockets up this year.
“Sixth year was difficult, it’s a tough year. I thought the exams were difficult compared to other years having done the past papers, so I didn’t expect these results at all. I’m over the moon.”
Reya Meer may have more reason than most to be proud of her results. Reya, whose family moved from the Philippines several years ago, managed to achieve a C on the ordinary-level Irish paper.
“I thought I’d fail Irish because I’m not originally from Ireland, so Irish is my third language. I’m lucky though I didn’t fail it which is unbelievable.”
She wants to remain in Ireland and study psychology in Dublin Business School, a prospect that is looking very likely as she believes she has achieved enough points.
Head girl Clodagh Duggan was absolutely shocked by her 505 points.
“I didn’t think I’d get anywhere near that, I was shaking. I want to do Commerce in UCC, so hopefully I got that.”
She said sixth year was stressful but enjoyable too. “I was just talking to a girl going into sixth year last night and I was saying it was the worst year and the best year all in one because we were so close by the end of it, the whole year. It was stressful but friends made up for that so I enjoyed it.
Principal Mary Keane is very proud of her girls: “We really reflect society, we have a cross-section of students, from people with learning difficulties to high-fliers, and all of them achieved what they wanted to achieve.”
Guidance counsellor Christy O’Shaughnessy. “We’re very pleased. Going out you can see the happiness on their faces so it’s a good day for everybody and it’s a great day for the school too. Happy days.”
While the results have been released and the wait begins for Monday’s CAO offers, this September will see a new batch of students begin preparing for the Leaving Cert exams. As Ms Keane says “It’s another cycle over and another cycle begins.”
