LIMERICK students have covered themselves in glory in the Leaving Certificate, with schools across the county and city celebrating their achievements. One city school principal described this year’s results as the best seen in his 30 years in the profession, while a Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh student walked away with the maximum 625 points. Shane Kelly, Ennis Road, was celebrating the achievement as a student in the first class from the school to sit the examination since its opening in 2006.
“These were our first Leaving Cert results and we are so proud of the students. They were exceptional,” said principal, Donnacha Ó Treasaigh.
The school had eight students who achieved more than 500 points, and the majority recorded more than 400.
Another Gaelscoil – Colaiste Chairáin in Croom – also achieved excellent results with Cian Lannan scoring the maximum 625 points for medicine.
Michael Cregan, principal at Laurel Hill, commented: “Results are the best I’ve seen in 30 years in the profession”.
More than 20 per cent of our students achieved in excess of 500 points. That’s against a background of eight per cent reaching that number of points nationally last year.
“What is important is that each student realised their own potential,” he told the Limerick Post.
At St Clements, principal, Vincent Foley, said: “Staff and students are very pleased. We had a number who scored more than 500 points, but they all did very well. We noticed that the maths results were definitely up this year”.
Clement’s student, Anthony Purcell, (18), from Ballynanty, earned 480 points. “That was well over what I needed for Electronic Computer Engineering in UL. I’m delighted because there was only one plan of action on what I was going to do”.
18-year old Stephen O’Sullivan, Cratloe, was happy to get 565 points which will serve him well in his application for pharmacy in Cork, while Clements student, Jeff Galligan, Old Cork Road, was celebrating getting 460 points to do Liberal Arts at Mary I.
In Laurel Hill, Grace Ryan from Faranshone, hadn’t translated grades into points but was very happy with her honours art results as she is “doing a portfolio year and I want to do art afterwards”.
In all, two and a half thousand students sat the exams in Limerick.
Coláiste Chiaráin leaving cert student Cian Lannon, from Ballyneety can’t believe his eyes with his 625 points and is now looking forward to a career in medicine.
Picture: Keith Wiseman
