EXAM RESULTS REACTION:NO FEWER than five students from Cork were celebrating achieving 12 As or more in the State examinations yesterday.
Among those was Áine Hurley (15), a pupil at Scoil Mhuire in Cork city who scored 15 As, including in German and Spanish, which she only took up studying at Christmas.
"I just couldn't open the envelope, I was so nervous, but when I saw the first two As in Irish and English, I was delighted because I thought I had got a C in English. I was thrilled and when I looked down the list and saw the rest of my results, I couldn't believe it."
In addition to Irish, English and Maths, Áine, from Ballinhassig in south Cork, also got As in geography, history, science, civil social and political education (CSPE), music, business, religious education, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Latin.
Despite excelling at languages, Áine, who is also keen on sailing and horse riding, has opted for physics, chemistry and biology for her Leaving Cert, and is considering veterinary medicine or psychology at third level.
Her principal at Scoil Mhuire, Regina Moran, described Áine's results as "phenomenal", but said the school was pleased with its results across the board and that unlike the national pattern, the school had achieved good results in maths and languages.
"We have mixed ability classes, we don't stream them, and in two of our French classes, 41 per cent of the students got As," Ms Moran said. "That kind of result doesn't just happen, it's down to good teaching, good discipline and keen students."
Across the city, in Coláiste Chríost Rí, principal Seán Culhane was equally pleased, with the school similarly going against the national pattern with good results in maths and languages. "It's a vindication of our staff and our good systems here," he said.
Among the Coláiste Chríost Rí pupils celebrating were Conor Horgan (15) from Ballygarvan in south Cork and Eoghan Linehan (16) from Douglas, who achieved identical results, 12 As in the same subjects.
Both Conor, who helped his school to hurling success in the Munster U-16 ½ Kinanne Cup during the year, and Eoghan, who is in the scouts, found the religious education examination difficult, so they were both thrilled to discover that they had got As.
Eibhlín Lonergan from Conna in northeast Cork, who turned 16 just after the exams, arrived at Loreto Convent in Fermoy yesterday to discover she had scored 12 As in higher level papers and one A at ordinary level.
"I was very worried about English, history and geography - I didn't expect to get As in those at all. It was a complete shock when I opened the envelope and saw 13 As, I just couldn't believe it," said Eibhlín, who also completed a diploma in piano during the year.
Meanwhile, Ballincollig girl Niamh Buttimer was equally surprised and pleased when she got her results at Mount Mercy College and found she had also achieved 12 As at higher level.
Niamh, who celebrated her 16th birthday last Saturday, also plays the violin and piano.