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TraleeToday.ie’s Dermot Crean and Fergus Dennehy visited schools around Tralee in the wake students receiving their Leaving Cert results…
Sean Dowling (left), who got 605 points, with fellow high achievers Tréise Moran, Andrew McEllistrim, Aoife Garvey and Gavin Connolly with their Leaving Cert results at Mercy Mounthawk on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
IT was D-Day today for hundreds of students all around Tralee this morning as they arrived at their schools to collect the Leaving Certificate results.
Many were full of excitement, trepidation and no doubt, a whole bundle of nerves.
The girls over at Presentation Secondary were greeted by their Principal Sheila Pontillo on arrival as she handed them the brown envelopes.
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The frayed nerves proved unwarranted for most however, as they were soon bounding out of the entrance, clearly satisfied with what they had achieved.
“We’re very pleased with the results and lot of the girls have gone away happy,” said Ms Pontillo. “We’ve had a girl with 9 A’s and a girl with 7 A’s as well. Overall we’re delighted and the girls are very happy that all their hard work has paid off. I’m hoping now that they can get the weather to relax!” she added.
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CBS The Green students Ger O’Connor and William Hurley collecting their results early this morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
There was more of the same over in CBS The Green, where the Principal Anne O’Callaghan was on hand to tell us what the situation was.
“The boys who have come in so far are very, very happy. Overall we’re happy with the results too, I think the most important thing is that boys seem to know what they want. If they’re happy, that’s all that matters. We had a lot of boys in the 500’s [points] with the highest being 590. It’s all been very satisfactory for us really and the cohort of students are delighted as well,” said Anne.
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Sean Fitzmaurice and Conor Buckley of CBS The Green collecting their results. Photo by Dermot Crean
The students at Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí were also gathered at the school discussing the results when we arrived.
The general feeling there was happiness and satisfaction with all hoping they had got enough for their chosen college places.
Over in Mercy Mounthawk around 200 students sat the exams – both Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied – and Principal, John O’Roarke said the vast majority of students were happy with the results, with some particularly high scores in the school.
Jack Murray, Patrick Walsh, Darragh McGarty and Marcos Prendiville with their Leaving Cert results at Mercy Mounthawk on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
“Three students achieved over 600 points and about 22% got over 500 points which we’re very pleased with,” he said. “I’m particularly happy with the STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] scores. We had 36% of students taking honours maths and 16% of them got A’s, while the national average is 10%. We also had a 30% A rate in physics and chemistry, while the national average is 20%,” he said.
Mounthawk student Nicky Breen, who sat the Leaving Cert Applied was satisfied with the result.
“I got a distinction, which is great. I hope to get a course in Tralee to become a medical and legal secretary,” she said.
Nicky Breen and Greg Leahy with their Leaving Cert Applied results at Mercy Mounthawk on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
“I was really happy,” said another Mounthawk student, Siobhan Breen. “I got what I wanted. I hope to go to Cork to do biology and chemical sciences,” she added.
“I suppose I did better than I expected,” said her friend, Laoise McElligott. “I hope to go on to do Business in UL,” she said.
Laoise McElligott, Sarah Fitzgerald, Kelly Moloney, Sarah Cooper and Siobhan Breen with their Leaving Cert results at Mercy Mounthawk on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Iseult Daly was also pleased with her results.
“Yeah I was very happy and relieved. Hopefully I’ll get what I want,” said Iseult who is hoping to do Commercial And Modern Music in Dublin Institute of Technology.
Clodagh Fitzgerald, Kevin McCarthy, Diarmaid Moriarty and Iseult Daly with their Leaving Cert results at Mercy Mounthawk on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Gavin Connolly achieved 580 points.
“I was absolutely delighted. Hopefully I’ll get medicine in Cork,” he said, while similarly high-achieving was his friend Sean Dowling who got 605 points. So how did he feel after seeing the results?
“I was surprised and delighted of course. I hope to get mathematical science in Cork,” said Sean from Blennerville.
At Coláiste Gleann Lí, 16 students sat the exam and Principal Richard Lawlor said they were all happy with the results.
“I got to give the results to the students individually and I’m delighted to report there was nobody with any negative feelings. We always make sure to speak with them before and after [receiving the results] so that they’ll leave the building in a good place,” he said.
Darragh McGinley and Aisha Sharif Hassan with their Leaving Cert results at Coláiste Gleann Lí on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
One Coláiste Gleann Lí student who was happy with the results was Darragh McGinley.
“I’m delighted with myself. I was made out to be a lot worse than it was. I’m hoping to get a PLC course here,” he said.
His friend, Aisha Sharif Hassan was also pleased.
“I had a simple plan: prepare for the worst, expect the best! It seemed to work out for me, because I did better than I thought I would. College here I come,” said Aisha.
Tralee VTOS students Michelle Galvin, Michael Pitman, Jacinta Quirke, Joanne Galvin, Lucy Stokoe, Celia Keane and Kevin Martin with their Leaving Cert results on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Meanwhile, at Tralee VTOS, nine mature students ranging in ages from their 20s to 50s sat the exams and all were delighted with the results.
Course co-ordinator, Jim Crowley, praised their efforts.
“I suppose it can be difficult, with some having families and things to look after, but they did very well.” he said.
Overall, there seemed to be a general sense of happiness and relief around the various school grounds as students excitedly hugged their friends in celebration before rushing off to show or ring their waiting parents to tell them the news.
Scroll down for more photos…
Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí students Darragh Ó Caoimh Cheallaig and Cian Carlos collecting their results early this morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí students Dylan De Búrca, Jack Mac Coitir and Neil ó Caoileán collecting their results early this morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
CBS The Green students Shane Fitzgerald, Darragh McMahon and Dara Kelly collecting their results early this morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
Presentation students Rebecca McGovern, Sheila Gaynor and Michelle Lynch collecting their results early this morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
Presentation students Katie O’Brien, Zoe Perry, Sarah Jane O’Brien and Shannon Lawlor collecting their results early this morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
Presentation students Czara Casey, Sarah Joe Lynch, Clodagh Daly, Mary Kate Maguire and Katelyn Corcoran collecting their results early this morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
Nicole Comerford, Majella Shanahan and Rebecca O’Halloran with their Leaving Cert results at Mercy Mounthawk on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ciara Williams and Vilte Kaletkaite with their Leaving Cert results at Mercy Mounthawk on Wednesday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
