The only student to achieve nine A1s in his Leaving Certificate yesterday retreated to a football pitch in celebration of his results, amid plans to begin life as a UCD engineering student in a matter of weeks.
Ronan McGovern (17) of Patrician Secondary School in Newbridge, Co Kildare sent his family and friends a one-word text message which simply detailed the figure of nine when he emerged from the school building yesterday morning.
The first to receive his results at 9am yesterday, McGovern said he was "very pleased" with his nine A1s and insisted the successful formula was a consistent study regime over the course of five years. Having continued to participate in hurling, football, school musicals and the student council throughout the academic year, he modestly rejected suggestions of simply being a genius.
"My sister, who I'm convinced is a fortune teller, has been slagging me for ages saying she already knew I was going to get great results," he said.
School principal Peter O'Reilly described McGovern as a consistent and hard-working student and deserving of his "phenomenal result".
"The school is very happy and very proud of him. I'm very happy for the teaching staff who give so much of their time to helping students outside of school time . . . we will live in the glory of this for a while," he said.