SCHOOL DAYS have been such a happy part of the lives of two Galway students that they have not missed a day since starting playschool 14 years ago.
Emma Gleeson and Fiona Comer, who are days away from sitting their Leaving Cert at Dunmore Community School, outside Tuam, have bucked a national trend on absenteeism.
The girls have clocked up an impressive 2,299 days each in primary and secondary school.
Figures released by the National Educational Welfare Board show that while absentee levels have remained stable in recent years, the average number of days missed each year by primary school pupils is 12, and 13 at second level.