Class of 2020... Cousins rack up a magnificent seven H1 hits

Two Navan cousins have every reason to celebrate this week having both achieved 625 points – the highest possible- in this year's Leaving Certificate.

Rachel Ward and Robert Staunton who are cousins, both live on the Boyne Road in Navan and both achieved a stunning seven H1s.

“It is just brilliant. I am thrilled and delighted,” said Rachel.

“I am very proud of Robert. We are best friends and did everything together,” she said.

Robert said: “It is absolutely wonderful. We can both be very proud of ourselves. We both put in a lot of hard work and we deserve it.”

Rachel who was Loreto student, is a daughter of Michelle Callaghan and Aidan Ward.

She is hoping to study either radiation therapy or pharmacology in Trinity College and has received the points for both courses.

“I will have to decide which will make me happy,” she says. Rachel was a little bit nervous on Monday morning but “I had full faith in the school - that everything they did would be fair.”

She went online to get the results and was ecstatic.

Robert was a student of St Patrick’s Classical School. He is a son of Gillian and John Staunton.

“It is such a relief after the last very difficult few months.”

He admits he was very nervous before he got his results.

“If I at least had a chance to sit the exam I might have been more confident, but it felt as if it was out of my hands.”

Robert is hoping to study medicine in either the Royal College of Surgeons or NUI Galway and says it very much depends on what happens on Friday when CAO offers are made.

He said that he and Rachel didn't study together but they constantly stayed in touch with each other.

Because of Covid-19 there won't be a big celebration.

“We will stay in with our families and celebrate with them”, he said.

Robert’s and Rachel's mothers, Michelle and Gillian are sisters. Their parents, Robert and Maria Callaghan of Athlumney Road are the proud grandparents of the two very talented and hardworking youngsters.

Among the very high achievers celebrating this week is Aaron Tolan from Demailstown, Wilkinstown who achieved an incredible 613 points in his Leaving Cert.

The O’Carolan College, Nobber student is now hoping to study PE and Biology Education in DCU.

“The points last year were around 500 , so I am fairly confident of getting a place this year,” he said, as he looked forward to the CAO offers on Friday.

Aaron, who is a son of Brenda and Martin Tolan said he was very nervous, when he went to open the results.

“I was very nervous, but it all worked out well.”

He said the celebration of his success had been low key because of Covid-19 restrictions.

There was celebrations on the treble at St Oliver’s Post Primary School in Oldcastle as three pupils achieved an outstanding 625 points – Nicola Dooner, Claire Murphy and Ryan Lukin.

Meanwhile three pupils who attended St Oliver Post Primary School, Oldcastle achieved 625 points.

Principal, Brendan Corcoran was delighted: “After what was a particularly difficult year for our 6th years, it is fantastic to see so many students get the excellent results that their hard work and dedication deserves."

"Unfortunately, this year we could not welcome all pupils into our school building to receive their results. On behalf of all the staff, I would like to wish the class of 2020, the very best as they start the next chapter of their lives. Well done to the parents as well, without their help and support, the pupils would not have performed so well”.

"Indeed, it was very pleasing for staff to see students achieving their potential: “It is not all about top points, our pupils worked very hard to accomplish their goals. Which will see pupils take different pathways to success, be that university; apprenticeships; PLC courses; or Institutes of Technology”. Staff were thrilled with the number of pupils who breached the 500 and 600-point mark.

"Well done to our three pupils who achieved an outstanding 625 points – Nicola Dooner, Claire Murphy and Ryan Lukin.

The staff of St Oliver Post Primary School, Oldcastle would like to extend their heartiest congratulations and best wishes for the future to the Leaving Certificate class of 2020."

Among the very high achievers celebrating this week is Aaron Tolan from Demailstown, Wilkinstown who achieved an incredible 613 points in his Leaving Cert.

The O Carolan College, Nobber student is now hoping to study PE and Biology Education in DCU.

“The points last year were around 500 , so I am fairly confident of getting a place this year,” he said, as he looked forward to the CAO offers on Friday.

Aaron, who is a son of Brenda and Martin Tolan said he was very nervous, when he went to open the results.

“I was very nervous, but it all worked out well.”

He said the celebration of his success had been low key because of Covid-19 restrictions.

Colm O'Rourke principal of St Patrick's Classical School in Navan, said he was really happy with the results which included six student receiving over 600 points.

"We were concerned about it how it work out, but we are really happy, we had excellent results and the students did very well.

"The results were broadly in line with previous years, so we didn’t benefit from grade inflation. The teachers took the process very seriously and the grades they put in were pretty much what the student got.

"We were happy with the process," he said.