Students express relief and delight
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IT WAS the day they had all been waiting for, and the smiles of relief on the faces of the students at Gorey Community School said it all.
There were hugs of congratulations all round as a large majority of the 260 Leaving Cert pupils went along to the school to pick up their results in person.
Principal Michael Finn had a warm handshake and words of congratulations for each and every one of them. He was particularly proud of this bunch of students, as he had been Head of their Year Group before he took up the post of principal.
' They were very very good. I'm absolutely delighted with them,' he said. 'A very good percentage this year were over 500 or close to 600. There are a lot of happy faces all round which is good. I'm very pleased with them.'
One of those smiling brightly was Clodagh Leacy from Gorey. 'I'm delighted. I got more than I wanted,' she said, adding that she hopes to do teaching. Jonathan Bealin from Castletown was also happy. 'I got what I needed,' he said. He hopes to go on to do Engineering in DCU.
Lisa Redmond from The Rock said she was happy as she had done much better than she expected. She was pleasantly surprised with her English and French results. Clara Halpin from Coolgreany was really surprised with how well she got on, and was waiting for the offers on Monday to see what options would be open to her.
Tommy Martin from Gorey said he got the points he needed and was very happy. He hopes to do Sports Management in UCD. David Clegg also got the points he needed and hopes to go to WIT to do Engineering.
Conor Nolan from the Rock said he hoped to do Business and Japanese in DIT, while PJ Clince from Ballymoney was hoping to go to WIT. 'I'm over the moon,' he said. 'I didn't think I'd get anything like I did. I got 100 more points than I expected.'
Sara Jane Mangan from Gorey was really pleased. She hopes to do primary school teaching. 'I should be safe,' she said, adding that she was particularly delighted with her results in Geography, Biology and Music.
Ruth O'Donoghue from Courtown was also on cloud nine. 'I'm delighted. It's over what I needed,' she said, adding that she hopes to study Art History in Trinity. 'I'm really happy. My mother didn't believe me at first when I told her the results!'
A wide variety of paths now lie ahead of the students, and they will be scattered to the four winds, as they pursue further studies or begin a career. Last Wednesday was a day for celebration, and congratulations on a job well done.
