Saoirse tops Junior Cert A-list with 12 reasons for birthday cheer

Saoirse Lonergan from Conna, Co Cork has double reason to cheer — with 12 As in her Junior Certificate and looking forward to her 16th birthday tomorrow.

The transition year student at Loreto Secondary School in Fermoy was one of just four out of more than 60,000 students to get the top grade in 12 subjects yesterday, an achievement that blew her away.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all, I did think I might get a handful of As but definitely not that many,” she said.

But while she is clearly talented, top academic ability runs in the family and in her school.

Her sister Eibhlín was one of only nine students with eight higher level A1s in the Leaving Certificate just over a year ago, and their older sister Caoimhe previously got seven.

Another student with eight higher level A1s in August 2013 was a graduate of Kilrush Community School in Clare, where Criostóir King received 12 Junior Certificate As yesterday.

“I’m delighted, I was a bit surprised, I thought I didn’t do that well in German so this is a real shock,” said the teenager from Moyasta near Kilrush.

Also in Clare, Róisín Ní Fhallúin from Ballyea got 12 As when students at Gaelcholáiste an Chláir received their results yesterday.

Like the 25 other students at the all-Irish unit attached to Ennis Community College, she did most of her exams through Irish.

“I went to a gaelscoil in primary and we speak it a bit at home. I was thinking I might have four or five As this morning, but I didn’t expect this at all,” said 15-year-old Róisín.

For Emma Donohoe, a student of Mercy Secondary School in Ballymahon, Co Longford, maths and Irish were subjects she found toughest so she too was shocked with her 12 As.

Like the others, she put her success down to simple things like paying attention to her teachers.

“A definite tip is that listening in class is a very big part, you can learn so much without having to study all the time,” said Emma, who enjoys singing and kayaking in her spare time.

The principals of all four students said their stories are a reflection of the hard work by all those who did the Junior Certificate, for which having the right supports is crucial.

“It takes huge commitment from students themselves, but they get solid support from home and we’d like to think it’s about excellent teaching as well,” said Rock Kirwin, Criostóir’s principal at Kilrush Community School.

The four were among 2,046 students with seven or more As either at higher level or at common level, in which civic, social and political education (CSPE) is examined.

That group includes 299 students with 10 As and 135 students with 11 As.

On course

Dozens of students who did the Junior Certificate in June have already started at university this week.

But remaining grounded, these bright teenagers are only getting a taste of third-level at Dublin City University while they continue their progress through second-level. The initiative of the Centre for Talented Youth in Ireland (CTYI) aims to give transition year students a chance to try out courses they might want to take when they finish school.

For one day a week during transition year, more than 90 students can take first-year degree modules in engineering, maths, psychology or law and politics, facing the same rigour and assessment as those who have joined as full-time undergraduates.

The CTYI has been based at DCU for over 20 years, teaching students from six-16 who have exceptional ability.