There were sighs of relief and tears of joy from the students of Maynooth Post Primary School when they received their Leaving Certificate results yesterday.
Most students who arrived at the school early seemed more that content with their results. This year's top score of 555 went to Sinead Keenan, who was "overwhelmed" by the result.
"I got A1s in English and German and A2s in maths, French and chemistry," she said. Sinead hopes to study psychology and Italian at Trinity College Dublin, which last year settled at 530 points in the final round.
Those who were less optimistic about their marks may have decided to stay at home and use the new Department of Education phone line to find their results. However, most students in Maynooth couldn't hold out until midday, when the lines were opened.
"I did think about using the phone line but I don't think I'd have lasted until then," said Karen Brady. "I needed to know as soon as I woke up this morning".
Karen's brother, who also sat the exam, used the phone service.
Erica O'Dea and David Campbell, who arrived together this morning, were glad their long wait was over.
"I was shaking when I walked down this morning. I thought my legs were going to go from under me," said Erica, who also passed the entry exam for the Civil Service. Neither she nor David is going for CAO courses and will escape the tension of the points race.
"I've been offered a couple of sports scholarships to America," said David, a promising athlete. "I'm going to hold off for a year, though, and do a private course in physical therapy in Stillorgan." David needed C grades in biology and English for acceptance into the course and got a B in both.
School principal Mr Sean Ashe said the results were "solid across the board" and congratulated students, teachers and parents for their "tremendous dedication and effort" throughout the year.