Gifted students tell of their delight at getting top marks
FOUR gifted students earned top marks across the board in this year’s Junior Cert exams.
The top honour students expressed their shock and delight at securing the highest grades in all their exams.
Eimear Kennedy (15), from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, revealed her joy at securing 12 of the best marks possible in her subjects.
The St Caimin’s Community School student, who is now in fifth year in the school, hopes to go on to study computer science or business at university.
“I’m very happy with it, I still haven’t taken it in,” she said.
“I don’t think anyone can really expect to get 12 top marks, so it was a shock when I looked at the results. I have really great teachers and a great principal here, which has really helped. When I leave school I would like to do computer science or a business course.”
Meanwhile, Tipperary student Isobel Quirk was also “completely shocked” when she opened her results.
“I thought I did well in geography, history and CSPE. After that, I didn’t know if I was coming or going.
“I couldn’t believe it. I really couldn’t. My parents were really happy. Actually, I think they were happier than I was,” she said.
The 16-year-old student boards at Clochar Na Nursulach in Thurles, Co Tipperary.
“I put in about two or three hours of study each evening. I’m boarding at the school so they
schedule those hours of study for all of us,” she said.
“I also do a lot of sport so that helps a bit with stress relief.”
Another student to earn top marks was Niall O’Donnell (15) from Summerhill College, Co Sligo, who modestly stated he “did fairly well”.
“It was a huge surprise. I wasn’t expecting it at all. I did a bit [of study] after school but I didn’t kill myself. I’m in the local swimming club so I do about eight hours of swimming there each week.”
“Transition year is great because you get to do a lot of different projects. I’m really looking forward to getting my mini company going,” he said.