After two months of waiting, 3,107 Galway students are waking up this morning contemplating their future path after receiving their Leaving Cert results yesterday. With first round CAO offers not published until Monday, many will be facing a few more anxious days before they learn if they have gained entry into their chosen course. Two Galway students will face no such quandary however, as Ciaran Doyle of Craughwell and Ruth Cormican from Oranmore were among 10 students in the country who achieved eight A1s.
Overall, the nationwide tally of Leaving Cert students was marginally down, with CAO applications also decreasing from 77,628 to 73,328 as a result of a decline in mature students returning to college, fuelling hopes that CAO points could be poised to descend.
The results statistics are also encouraging for students chasing valuable points. Irish and English both saw an increase in A1s at higher and ordinary level, although maths did see a fall in premium grades at all three levels, and failure levels, particularly at ordinary level, proved disconcerting.
Science subjects saw improvement in grades with physics, chemistry, the physics and chemistry option, and agricultural science all recording an incremental number of higher levels A1s. Business subjects are languages enjoyed mixed figures, with A1s in accounting, economics and French up, while Business Studies and French decreased. Higher level A1s in history and geography were also down on last year’s tally.
Scenes of jubilation were the order of the day at Yeat’s college, as two students celebrated a maximum haul of 600 points. A further five students accumulated 590, with an impressive 32 per cent of students achieving more than 500 points. Lua Rahmani from Oranmore scored 590 points, and was ecstatic with her results: “I am over the moon with my results. I am hoping to study medicine in NUI, Galway. It was a lot of hard work but I wouldn’t change a minute of it.”
Congratulating students on results day, principal of Yeats College Terry Fahy commented: “Our students have worked extremely hard throughout the year and I would like to personally congratulate them on their outstanding results. Their hard work and determination has paid off and many are confident of receiving their first choice when the CAO offers are made on Monday.”
Coláiste na Coiribe were also in a celebratory mood, as well as boasting the stellar achievements of Ciaran Doyle’s eight A1s, Fionntán Ó hEadhra from Spiddal achieved six A1s and Siobhán Ní Dhuibhghiolla got seven As, with many other students also posting excellent results. The school have said they are particularly delighted with the grades attained in Irish, geography, business and biology.
Students have until Tuesday to apply to view their marked scripts, while requests for appeal must be submitted to the State Examinations Commission by Wednesday September 7. Both applications are made through the candidate’s school. Any students who feel they require further assistance can contact the exam helpline on 1800 265 165.
