HOWLING GALES and torrential rain did little to allay the nerves of the nearly 6,000 students in Cork who got their Leaving Certificate results yesterday.
“It was lashing and horrible, it could not have been worse,” Orla O’Hea (18) from Carrigaline said after making a dash through the rain to Christ King Secondary in Douglas. The skies soon seemed brighter as she found out she had received 600 points. “I was so shocked, I couldn’t remember what points were awarded for different grades,” she said.
Her guidance counsellor Christy O’Shaughnessy said the pupils were apprehensive yesterday morning. “But once they received results, in general there was elation, excitement and a very positive vibe,” he said. “There is added pressure due to the change in economic culture in Ireland. They are working harder because they know they have to get the desired result.”
Aoideen Buckley (18) from Ballyphehane cried tears of happiness when she opened her results to find five A1s and an A2. “I saw it and thought this can’t be true. I was hopeful, but I never thought I’d get 605 points. All my stress symptoms returned in the last few days; they disappeared today,” she said. She was among 162 girls receiving results from Christ King Secondary, where 68 per cent of students scored over 300 points, two surpassed the 600 mark and maths results were up between 5 per cent and 8 per cent at higher level.
Principal Mary Keane and staff were in the school from 7am to prepare for the annual emotional rollercoaster. “They are great workers, but the pressure to get into third-level is so intense now that many were near tears receiving results,” she said.
The Department of Education could do more to ease the process for students by providing results electronically, she said. “In this digital age they still send out results in hard copy, when they could email them with the points provided,” she said.
Emma Porter (19) from Ballinlough, a student at St Angela’s in Cork city who got seven A1s, hopes her points will secure a course in medicine. “I couldn’t sleep last night. I was nervous but going in I felt strangely calm. My mum came with me and my boyfriend too, so that was a big help,” she said.
At Belvedere College in Dublin city centre, there was a feeling of excitement and apprehension among those awaiting their results. “Today is a very important day in their lives,” said school principal Gerry Foley. “We want to be supportive if there’s a disappointment, and we want to share in the good times as well if they’re really happy with their results.”
Three of the students received 600 points, and another picked up 800. Garbhán Doyle (18), from Clontarf, was overjoyed with his tally of 500, which he hopes will earn him a place on a business and economics course at Trinity College, Dublin. “I’m kind of a relaxed person, but over the last week I was starting to get a bit nervous,” he said.
At CBS Synge Street, principal Michael Minnock said the 25-point incentive for taking higher maths had proved extremely positive for his school’s results. “Our average points total will be up on last year and we’re very pleased with that,” he said.
A little rain wasn’t going to stop students celebrating their results last night, writes Áine McMahon. Girls did their best to navigate Dublin’s rain-sodden Grafton Street in their high heels. The boys were better dressed for the conditions and offered hoodies to their companions.
Moldovan-born Christian Spac from Park West, Dublin was in high spirits. “I hope to study computer science in UCD, we’re all going to hit the Village later,” he said.
Alex Reilly was “not thrilled” with his results but said he was “going to go out and enjoy” his night anyway.