Leaving Cert results: Record number of students celebrate top marks as CAO offers loom

Students across Ireland celebrated Leaving Cert 2025 results, with standout achievements in Cork as many now await CAO offers

School principal Michelle Sliney shows her delight as sixth-year students at Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Cork Cormac Harris, and Alan O'Sullivan take time to relax after it was announced at a virtual ceremony that they were the European Union Competition for Young Scientists winners for 2020. Picture: Dan Linehan

The wait was over for thousands of students across the country as the 2025 Leaving Cert results arrived. 

A record number of students had sat this year's set of exams in June. 

Michelle Sliney, principal of Coláiste Choilm in Ballincollig, said there was a great buzz around the school after students collected their results.

“We’re so proud of the students, and those who reached their targets, and some who overcame challenges and deserved to so well.

“At the end of the day, I always say success looks so different for every individual.

“There are so many options out there for them. There are people who don’t get exactly what they hope for, but they have to stay calm at this stage, don’t panic, and get some advice.

“It's one set of results, it doesn't define them, and it doesn’t define their future.” 

Meadhbh Ni Chathasaigh, Maria De Barra Ni Mhurchu, Aisling Darby and Aoibhe Ni Dhuibhir, all Coláiste Choilm. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

David O’Connell, from Ballincollig, was among the students who called back to see their teachers at Coláiste Choilm after receiving their results.

“I’m feeling so happy to be honest. Everything went so well, I couldn’t believe it. I was ecstatic when I saw my points online.” 

He now hopes to go on to study government and political science at University College Cork next year. 

“I was given the opportunity in fourth and fifth year to go to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg and Brussels, and ever since then, I’ve loved everything about politics," David said. "I’m really hoping I get the offer in the CAO next Wednesday.”

A joyful moment at the Cork Life Centre as Jack O’Leary, Francesca Ring and Kevin Riordan leap from the steps with their Leaving Cert results in hand. Picture Chani Anderson

At Cork Life Centre in Sunday’s Well, Kevin Riordan, Francesca Ring, and Jack Salter-O'Leary were among the students receiving their Leaving Cert results from the alternative education centre. 

All were very happy when they spoke to the Irish Examiner. “I was surprised to see my music results,” Jack said. “I thought I was going to do terrible.” 

He joined Cork Life Centre in 2023. "I'm going to miss them so much. It's the best school in Ireland in my opinion." 

"I'm delighted, I got a lot more than I was expecting," said Kevin. He hopes to now study applied biology at UCC. 

"I think I'm in good shape," he said. "But I don't want to jinx myself. That's my end goal, I'd like to study that." 

Francesca Ring with mother Áine Ring at the Cork Life Centre following her Leaving Cert results. Picture: Chani Anderson

Fran was also hopeful that her results would secure her first choice of college course next week.

“I’m feeling relieved. Hopefully now with what I have, I should get into my course, which is nursing. The course is MTU but based in Tralee. I really enjoyed English and always put work into it so I was really happy with my result.”

Leaving Cert celebrations seemed to be taking a lower key this year amongst students receiving results, with many reporting they plan to have chilled weekends or to celebrate at home with family. 

Vakare Visalgaite, Noah Cahill and Emily Ramsamy, looking happy after receiving their Leaving Cert results at Davis College in Mallow, Co Cork. Picture: David Keane.

It's a trend noticed by Davis College principal Stephen Gilbert.

“Long ago, it used to be a huge night out, but I don’t know if it is anymore. They’re focused now on the college places next week, and it's all about getting ready for college and moving onwards.

“For a lot of them, it's like ‘job done and let’s move on’ That’s the sense I get anyway. There’s no talk about where we are going tonight, it's all about where we’re going next year.

“The vast majority of students were happy. They just want to know did they get what they want, did they get the course they want, did they get apprenticeship they want. Once they do, they are happy.”

Cillian Monahan, Richard Buckley and Oisín Drew, Zak Gilley, James Ryan, Peter Mullane, Luke Kiely and Jason Zhang who all received the maximum of points in their Leaving Cert at Christian Brothers College, Cork. Picture: David Creedon

Christian Brothers College celebrated on Friday as 140 students received their results. 

Some 10 students at the school received the maximum Leaving Cert points of 625, with five students achieving seven H1 grades.

A further five students were awarded six H1 grades.

Principal David Lordon said the weeks leading up to results day have been a nervous time. "But I’m sure when they logged on this morning to view their results, they felt that all their effort and sacrifice had paid off."

Time to put the books away for Oran Kielty after scoring high marks in his leaving Cert at Christian Brothers College, Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

One Cork student who received eight H1s in this year’s Leaving Cert exams is now hoping to pursue a career in medicine.

Fiachra Wall, from Cloghroe, a student at Presentation Brothers College, received top marks in English, Irish, maths, Latin, accounting, chemistry, physics and applied maths.

He told the Irish Examiner he was “a little” surprised to see the eight H1s when he received his results on Friday.

“I did put a lot of work in over the last couple of years, so it was good to see it pay off.” 

Fiachra Wall from Tower in Cork is well on his way to realising his dream of becoming a Doctor after receiving 8 H1s in his leaving cert. Picture: Chani Anderson

He is hoping to secure a place at UCC to study medicine when the first round of CAO offers are issued next week.

“I put that first anyway, so I am hopeful for that. I’ve always seen medicine as a really interesting career. I don’t think I would get bored of it.

"I did work experience in fourth year at the Mercy and I really, really enjoyed it. I think it's something I definitely want to do.” 

He kept his study routine consistent to avoid burnout.

“It definitely got tough, and there were some late nights, but I don’t know. I just tried to think about what I was doing it for, and to just get the possible results, and thankfully it just worked out in the end.”

The first round of college place offers will be issued to students by the CAO next Wednesday, August 27.