Earlier this week on the eve of receiving their Leaving Cert results, we chatted to four students about their hopes and nerves ahead of the big day. 
After a few days to allow the results to sink in, Donegal Daily approached Gavin, Síofra, Shane and Martina again to learn of their successes in Wednesday’s Leaving Certificate results.
by Caoimhe Ní Chathail
Gavin :
Gavin is ‘delighted’ with his results overall. Having received his results from his Principal and Deputy Principal, he was very pleased with them overall and believes that he achieved a fair grade in each subject. Gavin has obtained sufficient points for his top CAO choice, Computer Science in Trinity. He does admit however that Queens through UCAS is his ‘preferred choice’. Having exceeded on all other grades, Gavin is considering getting his maths grade rechecked, as he was one grade short on Queen’s requirement for the course. He is however confident that he will be accepted either way, ‘I have an anxious wait until Monday now when the offers come out.’
Síofra :
Síofra decribes her first reaction as one of shock, ‘to finally see a set of letters and numbers that have been so long anticipated.’ Her loss of speech was quickly replaced with a feeling of relief, ‘tied up with all that giddy happiness.’ ‘I had done what I thought was impossible. And it was over.’ She describes herself as ‘on the edge of the bracket’ and so nothing is concrete yet but of course ‘nothing is impossible, and the worst is most certainly done.’
Shane :
Shane was ‘confused for a while and too excited to try and count up my points.’ His woodwork teacher soon calculated his 515 points which exceeded the 480 points he needs for Architecture in UCD, ‘I was ecstatic’. His mum and friends outside were incredibly happy and proud and Shane himself says that he ‘can’t explain how glad and happy I was all day.’
Martina Hannigan :
Having opened her results with her mum in the car, Martina ‘burst into tears of happiness.’ She says she was shocked at how well she had done and was relieved that all the hard work had paid off. Languages had always been her favourite subjects and so Martina was proud that those were her highest grades. Martina is feeling positive and is confident of her place in Galway. As she says, ‘It’s now time to celebrate!’
Congratulations to Gavin, Síofra, Shane, Martina and all Donegal students on their Leaving Certificate results!