'It's a fantastic achievement': Taoiseach and Education Minister congratulate Leaving Cert students

Rachel Desmond, Aoibheann Gough and Sorcha McCarthy are all smiles after receiving their Leaving Cert results at St Aloysius' College, Carrigtwohill, Cork. Picture: David Keane

There was relief and jubilation mingled with some disappointment as 60,000 students across the country received their Leaving Cert results on Friday, with candidates again boosted by artificially inflated grades.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) said 68% of grades received a “post-marking adjustment” that increased their grades upwards, following through on the Government commitment that the class of 2024 would do no worse than the previous year.