Wednesday was Leaving Cert results day and nervous students arrived at the different schools in The Avondhu catchment area from 9am. Even those that were quietly optimistic couldn't help but have some last minute nerves as they approached the school grounds.

It is of course an equally anxious time for parents, and many drove their sons and daughters to their schools on Thursday morning to collect their results.

There were scenes of joy and jubilation as the students took possession of their results sheets, scanned them and absorbed their respective outcomes. Any tears appeared to be more of relief and joy than unhappiness as they mingled with friends, trading their news.

One young student in Loreto with reason to be very happy was Eibhlín Lonergan who attained 8 A1s and an A2, one of just 10 students in the whole country to do so. Eibhlín, from Modeligo, Ballyduff, was one of four students in her school who got 600 or more points. 20% of Loreto students got 500 or more.

"It's a great day. It's excellent. We are delighted for all our students and congratulate them all," Loreto principal Marie Ring said. "We acknowledge all their hard work, the support of their parents and the dedication and commitment of staff," she added.

Dermot Coakley, principal of St Colman's College Fermoy offered his congratulations to each and every one of his students saying it's a real achievement to complete the Leaving Cert. He wished them every success in their future careers. Saying he was 'very happy with the results', he stated that while he hadn't had time to break them down, his belief was that most of his students will get to pursue their first choice college courses.

"It's important that those who don't, know that if they want to pursue a chosen career and persevere, they can achieve their goals," he said. Advice will be available in the school from their guidance counsellors, he added.

St Colman's achieved a 43% success rate in higher maths - quite a bit more than the national average, he disclosed, and biology and science were also very strong as were the humanities, history and geography. He thanked his entire staff whom, he said, had worked 'so hard' with the students to ensure their success.

Principal of Coláiste an Chraoibhín, Christy Healy was circumspect, refusing to be drawn on results. "We had a lot of happy youngsters this morning. We were very pleased," he said. He stressed that people think Leaving Cert results day is 'the big day' but it's not, the big day comes on Monday next whe the first round CEO offers are made.

Meanwhile, in Mitchelstown, spirits were high as many students achieved the points they needed for their chosen courses. From early morning on Wednesday, students were nervously ripping open the envelopes and of the three town schools, there were top marks in the Presentation Secondary School of 7 A's, the CBS 570 and St Fanahan's College 525.

Principal of Presentation Secondary, Anne Kirke told The Avondhu that they were very pleased on the whole for both the Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied, in which all students received merits. 

She commended the students for their hard work and the teachers for their dedication, adding that many students exceeded their own expectations and she wished them all the best of luck for the future.

Similarly, Colman Murphy, principal of St Fanahan's, said that they were delighted and had some very good results.

All of the Leaving Cert Applied students got merits or distinctions and he also commended an Italian foreign exchange student who completed the Leaving Cert in one year and did exceptionally well.

In the CBS, all of the Leaving Cert Applied students got the maximum grade of a distinction, while there were a number of students who got more than 500 points.

Principal, Dr John Desmond advised students to stay calm ahead of the CAO offers on Monday and said that the school guidance counsellor will be on hand for advice in the school on Wednesday.

"I would like to thank this cohort of students and their parents for the contribution they have made to the CBS school community over the past five or six years and to wish them every success in the future," he said, adding that he wished to thank the teachers for their hard work and dedication.

Many students in Nagle Rice Secondary School in Doneraile also hit above the 400 and 500 point mark and principal, Brid Lysaght, congratulated all of the students, adding that while the students who achieved maximum points will get national coverage, all of the students did very well.

"From an individual point of view, it is also important to remember that each result is very personal and the key issue is that the marks achieved reflect a student's ability and effort rather than the total achieved.
 
"Large numbers of students in Nagle Rice achieved in excess of 500 points. These results were greatly helped by the fact that the school offers a wide range of subjects to meet the various needs of students. Nagle Rice is among a very small number of schools which offer Biology, Physics, Chemistry as well as Agricultural Science and Applied Maths. All our subjects offered outside of school hours are free of charge to our students," the principal added.

Meanwhile West Waterford way in Blackwater Community School Lismore, principal Denis Ring's own son John from Fermoy, achieved 7 A1s and one A2, reaching the maximum number of points, 625, while Harriet Bennett Lenane of Lismore got 6A1s and one A2.

"We are thrilled that our students' academic achievements are of such a high quality," the principal said. "A high number of students got five As or over. The school is very proud of these successes and indeed the wonderful results achieved throughout the school by students at all levels of ability."

There is great satisfaction in seeing students achieve to their full potential, Mr Ring continued. "The achievement mirrors the national success the school has attained in a short period of time in All-Ireland hurling, camogie, soccer, drama, choral, the BT Young Scientist awards where they've had 17 category awards; the Eco Unesco competition, the mini company initiative and volleyball," he pointed out. It was particularly welcome in the school's 10th year, he said.

"All of the staff and students are looking forward to commencing our 11th year on August 26th with renewed enthusiasm and vigour," he added. A number of anniversary events are planned throughout the coming year in sport, drama, choir and social gatherings.

Minister for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock, commended all the local students and wished them well. "Regardless of what students might be planning in the next chapter of their lives, I want to congratulate them on the achievement that today represents," he said.  He pointed out that the largest number of students ever took the higher level maths paper this year while student numbers for all science subjects increased on last year.  He particularly welcomed that increase in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects. He said the increased uptake of STEM subjects in the Leaving Cert is reflected in applications for places on courses through the CAO.

Local councillors Noel McCarthy and Tadhg O'Donovan (the latter a member of Co Cork VEC), expressed congratulations to all those who'd received their Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert applied results.

"It's a time for students and parents to be cool, calm and contemplative particularly in considering the CEO first round offers on Monday next," Cllr O'Donovan said.

"It's important that each student realise their full potential to enable them to go foward into the workplace in a positive frame of mind," Cllr McCarthy added. Town councillor John Murphy also congratulated local students and wished them good luck in their future endeavours.

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