Galway:Students at a small Co Galway school that was earmarked for closure 20 years ago were yesterday celebrating remarkable exam results where every single higher level maths pupil received an honour.
"We are happy to be out of step with the national picture in maths. We had seven pupils sitting honours maths, and all seven got honours - four got Bs and three got Cs," said Eamon O'Donoghue, principal of 240-pupil St Cuan's, Castleblakeney, of which world-renowned milliner Philip Treacy is a former pupil.
Honours were also achieved by all higher level students in Irish, English, history, physics, chemistry, construction studies, accounting, home economics, music and technical drawing.
"The school nearly closed in the mid-1980s when it was sold by Order of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, but teachers and parents rallied to save it and it is now doing very well," Mr O'Donoghue said.
He added: "Our results prove you don't have to spend a fortune in private high-profile colleges to achieve good grades."