Celebrations high amongst students as CAO offers filter in
By Mary Dennehy
AS THE dust settles on last week’s Leaving Certificate results and CAO offers are made, the success stories of local students are starting to filter through communities.
In Clondalkin 18-year-old Sean Ó Deoráin (pictured right) from Gaelscoil Coláiste Chilliain scored a maximum 625 points after he impressively secured seven A1s.
Speaking to The Echo, Sean said: “I got seven As in my mocks, so I knew I had a good chance of doing well in my Leaving Cert, but you just never know how it’s going to play out on the day.
“I didn’t do a phenomenal amount of studying, but what I did do was put my head down at the start of Fifth Year and remained consistent throughout Fifth and Sixth Years – I didn’t leave it until my mocks.
“The teachers in Coláiste Chilliain also played a huge part in my result, while they never lost sight of the exams, they managed to keep classes fun, upbeat and interesting.
“They kept the students focused and I’d like to say a special thanks to my Irish teacher, Peadar Ó Tuathail.”
He added: “I am going to study French and Maths at Trinity and give myself some time to think about what I want to do and maybe do some traveling as well.
“A lot of students who get high points feel pressurised into taking on a course that they may not be interested in, but I intend to give myself time and plenty of options for my future, there’s no rush.”
Some 60 students sat the State exam in Coláiste Chilliain this year, and according to Principal Fergal Ó Giolláin: “We were very pleased with the results overall, students did themselves proud and performed very strongly in subjects such as history, Irish and honours maths.
“We’re delighted for Sean. His result is down to hard work and dedication and it’s thoroughly deserved.”
On the far side of the Naas Road in Old Bawn Community School in Tallaght celebrations were also high – with students Jason Lam and Michael Murtagh (pictured right) receiving 570 and 585 points respectively.
Both Jason and Michael featured in The Echo two years ago when they received the highest Junior Certificate results in their school, with Jason getting 10 As and one C and Michael nine As and two Bs in all Higher Level subjects.
Speaking to The Echo, principal Paul Crone said: “161 students sat the Leaving Certificate in Old Bawn and overall more than one-third of students got 400 points or more.
“We’re delighted with everyone’s performance and are expecting a lot of them to head off to university.”
He added: “This year we saw good overall results in maths, including applied maths, higher level biology and honours English, with the top higher English class in the school securing 17 As.
“These Sixth Years had a good work ethic and right from First year there was a good atmosphere and they worked with their teachers.”
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