Some school principals were surprised that government concern about standards in Leaving Certificate science was not reflected in their own schools' results.
Sister June Fennelly, principal of the Ursuline Convent in Waterford, was particularly pleased with the high number of A grades in the science subjects - physics, chemistry and biology - in her school. This seemed to counter the national trends about which the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, had expressed concern.
Higher level English, the subject of controversy in 1997, was "more in accordance with students levels of ability this year - there were not the inconsistencies in the same way as last year".
There had been some disappointment in higher level French, where students expected to do very well had under-performed - a difficult aural test may have played a part in this, she said.
The principal of Rockwell College in Co Tipperary, Mr Pat O'Sullivan, was also pleasantly surprised that this year's science results were so good, with biology "far better than expected".
He was also happy that 12 local day students from Cashel, Cahir and New Inn had got more than 500 points.
The top local student was 17year-old Angela Quinlan from Cashel, who got 550 points in six subjects. She is one of 110 girls out of 450 students in this formerly and traditionally all-boys school.
The principal of Wilson's Hospital school in Westmeath, Mr Adrian Oughton, said his students had done "particularly well" in biology and also in agricultural science. In higher level physics his small class had all done well, although the numbers getting higher level chemistry had dropped.
Mr Oughton was "very satisfied" with higher level English, with "no evidence of inconsistencies".
The principal of Maynooth Post-Primary School, Mr Sean Ashe, said his students' science results, both at higher and ordinary level, had been "well above the national average". He was also happy with the higher level English results.
The principal of Templeogue College in Dublin, Mr Ray Kennedy, said his higher level chemistry results were roughly the same as in the last two years. He said ordinary level chemistry, which had registered the most disappointing results, was taken by only 17 per cent of chemistry students nationally. Mr Kennedy expected 50 to 60 per cent of his students to return the form requesting to see marked papers.
The principal of Synge Street CBS in Dublin, Mr Stephen Jordan, noted that his school had a large Leaving Certificate entry of 140 this year. He thought that with declining numbers, notably in the inner city, this would be the last year with such an entry.
He was pleased with the higher level English results, as well as modern languages and business.
Irish had reflected the general trend: the top grades had improved but poorer grades continued to be a problem. He thought there was a reluctance among ordinary level students to opt for the foundation course, because it was seen as low status and - wrongly - that it would reflect badly on their performance in other areas.
The "vast majority" of his repeat students had been pleased with their results, showing they were right to come back and take the exam again with a more focused and mature attitude.
The principal of Firhouse Community College in south-west Dublin, Mr Michael Geaney, singled out English, construction studies, home economics, maths and history as subjects his students had done well in.
Girls were among the top achievers, particularly in maths and science. But "the science papers seemed to have been marked harder than expected".
Mr Geaney said it was "a bit cruel" that students who had done well - for example, by getting five honours - could not go out and celebrate until they had received their CAO points next week and therefore knew they could take up their chosen third-level course.