Much excitement and joy in Mayo over Leaving Cert results

“What stood out most today was the palpable sense of achievement and relief among students."

There was great excitement and joy at St. Joseph’s Secondary School Castlebar as the class of 2026 received their Leaving Certificate results.

The final year at secondary school is a significant milestone for students and whilst the majority tentatively opened their results online at home, afterwards a good number of students went to St. Joseph’s School to celebrate the occasion with classmates and teachers.

School principal Peadar Ó Tuathail commented on the wonderful atmosphere on what was a momentous day for everyone associated with St. Jospeh’s Secondary School.

“There was a wonderful atmosphere this morning as students arrived in large numbers to collect their Leaving Certificate results.

"While results have been available online since 10 a.m., many students chose to return to the school to celebrate in person with their teachers and management, a tradition that makes the occasion especially meaningful in our school community.

“We are delighted to see an increase in the number of students achieving H1 grades across a range of subjects this year.

"While grades and points are an important part of the Leaving Certificate, as an inclusive school, we take particular pride in celebrating the success of all our students and recognising the hard work, commitment and individual progress of each student.

“It is also a testament to the breadth of our subject offering that our Leaving Certificate students were examined in such a wide range of subjects this year.

"This reflects the diversity of interests, abilities and cultures within our school community and our commitment to providing students with a broad range of opportunities.”

Mr. Ó Tuathnail said that the students performed exceptionally well.

“A particular highlight this year was our first-ever Leaving Certificate DCG class. The students performed exceptionally well and their results are a great source of pride for the school.

"It is wonderful to see a new subject offering become established and to see our students achieve such positive outcomes.

“What stood out most today was the palpable sense of achievement and relief among students, many of whom are now looking forward to pursuing their chosen pathways in university, further education, training and employment.

"We were delighted to welcome them back this morning and to share in such a special milestone with them.”

Mr. Ó Tuathnail also had special praise for the amazing staff at the school.

“This is also a time to acknowledge our wonderful teaching staff who consistently go the extra mile for our students, as well as the wider staff who support them in so many different ways.

"We are also deeply grateful to their parents and families for entrusting their children’s second-level education to us. I hope they are justly proud of all that their children have achieved today.”

St. Joseph’s Leaving Certificate Head Coordinator Sinead Staunton said that the students were really happy with the results.

“There is a very positive mood here and all of the students are really happy with the results. It really shows their dedication, and they seem delighted with everything that they have achieved and it is all about college places now.

“While most of the students would have opened the results online at home, a lot of students wanted to come into the school as well. It is nice for the students to be able to be here and meet their classmates and teachers.

“As teachers we want them to get onto the next stage of their life and hopefully get the college courses that they wanted and it fabulous to witness this today.”

Leaving Certificate student Clodagh Quinn said that she was over the moon with her results.

“Some of the exams were hard enough, so I was surprised with some of the grades I received, and I was over the moon. I opened the results this morning and I actually cried when I saw them.

“My parents were so proud of me, and we all just started crying and they were delighted as well. It has been a memorable occasion for us all.”

Clodagh said that most of her classmates were happy with the results.

“I think everyone is happy with the results they achieved, and the majority of students have received enough points for their first choice at college.

"Overall people are happy, but I think that some exams were marked a bit harshly and while some people might be a bit disappointed, we all did our best and that is all we can do.”

History was Clodagh’s favourite subject and she excelled in that exam.

“I got an H1 in history and I was delighted with that as that exam was horrible! I was preparing for that exam since fifth year and my teachers would have been happy with that as well as they also put in a lot of work over the last two years, and they were incredible.

“I want to go to Letterkenny and study Health Science and Occupational Therapy. I received over 500 points and that is enough for that course, thank God. I am looking forward to college and meeting new people and studying a course that I will enjoy.”

Clodagh’s friend and fellow Leaving Certificate student Laila O’Malley said it was a little nerve-raking on the morning of the results.

“It was nerve-wrecking waking up this morning and realizing that today was the day of the results.

"However, all of the hard work was done, and it was only a matter of getting the results.

“My parents were there when I opened the results, and while I was calculating the points I received, they were asking ‘what did you get’ and they were really happy and so proud when they found out the results."

Mayo’s recent All-Ireland success was a welcome distraction from the anxious wait for Leaving Certificate results, as Laila explained.

“It helped alright, and I am just back from holidays as well. It was nice to have that bit of distraction, and that busy time helped take my mind off the exams and the pressure of waiting on the results.

“I loved biology and that would have been my favourite subject, and I was eager to do well in that exam. I also loved accounting and music. Overall, the teachers in St. Joseph’s were great.”

Laila is now looking forward to an exciting new chapter in her life.

“It is nice to be starting a new chapter and to meet new people and experience new things. It is kind of sad being here in the school today as it is probably the last time we will all be here.

"However, I am definitely ready for something new now and a new challenge in college. I am hoping to go to Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, to study education and psychology.”