MERCY Mounthawk held their annual awards reception on Saturday morning for those who obtained the highest grades in Leaving and Junior Certificate exams in 2016.

Twelve students were honoured (although Leaving Cert student, Ciara Holmes, was unable to attend) at the ceremony attended by their families and some teachers.

Three Leaving Cert students  Caoimhe Barry Walsh who achieved 625 points, Donagh O Buachalla, 575 points and Emma Leahy 575 points were honoured.

Junior Cert students Laura Harty (11 A grades), Tiernan Brosnan, Michael O’Gara (9 A grades each), Mary O’Connell, Niamh McMahon, Katie Crowe, Donagh McMahon and Maria Dwyer (8 A grades each) all received a token for their efforts.

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Vice-Principal, Pat Fleming, welcomed those attending and paid tribute to the students’ dedication and hard work.

“Excellence deserves recognition and acknowledgement. That’s what today is all about,” said Mr Fleming. “It’s for students who have excelled in this particular area of their school life; academia. But looking at the faces here, these are not purely academic students. I see footballers, basketballs, camogie players, debaters. I see rounded, whole individuals of whom we can be exceptionally proud of.

“Your achievement comes from immense support from your families. All would have provided you with support and encouragement. I also want to acknowledge the enormous contribution of the thoroughly dedicated and inspiring teaching staff we have here,” said Mr Fleming, who said in the end, nothing would be achieved without the students’ own hard work.

“Without your inner drive, that inner ambition, it would never happen. So the credit in the end belongs to you,” he said. Scroll down for photos…