A Cork student who scooped eight A1s in the Leaving Certificate looks set to be taught physiology in college by her own mother - who teaches medicine at UCC.
Meabh Allen, from Ovens in Co Cork, is working in a “little attic” in a Munich library for the summer.
She planned to look up her results online, but after an internet hiccup her mother went to Mount Mercy School to pick up her marks.
Meabh plans to study medicine, and could well be taught by her mother Fionnuala, who will be back to work after recovering from a liver transplant.
“It will be fine. It will be interesting. Mum is very professional. It’s been hard for her. It [the liver transplant] all happened so quickly and I couldn’t really think about it until after the process.
“Being taught by mum will be grand if it happens.”
The teenager said she had considered veterinary studies but decided to keep any dealings with animals as her hobby.
‘Fancy meal’
A “fancy meal” with her boyfriend was planned for tonight in Munich, but Meabh said she was conscious she was due in the library at 9am on Thursday for some more “cataloguing at the top of the building”.
Fionnuala Allen said she was "on tenterhooks" going to pick up the results, as her daughter had played down her exam performance.
“I was nervous I have to say. I might be teaching her physiology, but that’s alright as I have taught my sister already. I am very happy.”
Stressful year
Fionnuala said she was delighted to have such good news after a stressful year for the whole family.
Meanwhile, Kate wasn't the only high achieving student at Mount Mercy - with her classmate Kate Henry also scooping eight A1s.
Kate also plans to study medicine at UCC. Coincidentally, her mother Deirdre also works at the Department of Medicine onsite.
Kate said it was a “tough year” and she never expected to achieve so many A grades.
“I was shocked when I opened the envelope. I was always interested in medicine because a lot of my family are doctors. I did a lot of work. So I am very pleased.”
Mount Mercy principal, Padraigín Uí Riordain, said she was particularly pleased to see such good results in a year in which the school is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
“It has been a wonderful day of celebration here. Kate and Meabh are model students. I always say to students to be consistent and to do their very best. There is very positive peer pressure here. They all do the best they can.”
