Spirits were high last night as Junior Cert students came out in their thousands to celebrate in venues around Dublin. Hundreds more celebration disco parties were held throughout the Republic.
The girls arriving at Wesley rugby club disco in Donnybrook yesterday evening took advantage of the fine weather and largely wore a uniform of short skirts or dresses with high heels. Most were also fully bronzed from head to toe. The boys were generally more casual in shirts or T-shirts and jeans.
Almost 500 tickets for the Wesley disco were sold at €15 each and no more were available at the door last night. Those arriving yesterday evening seemed sober. Donie Bolger, function manager at Wesley, said: "If our security see anyone with alcohol or showing signs of drunkenness, their parents will be phoned immediately."
There was an orderly queue outside the Ivy nightclub on Harcourt Street in the city centre last night. Just under 1,000 tickets were sold for the Junior Cert disco at €20 each, said one of the organisers outside the venue. Like at Wesley, the crowd were well behaved, subdued even. "Well you are not going to get in if you drunk," said Alanna Maxwell, from John Scottus School in Donnybrook.
Queuing beside her was classmate Tara Doyle, who agreed wholeheartedly. "We can go to Wesley anytime because it is nearby," said Alanna. "We came here instead because it is a special occasion."
Also queuing were Matthew Boland and Seán Cregg, both from Terenure College. They agreed with the girls about going somewhere other than Wesley to celebrate their Junior Cert results. Around the Docklands area near the Point, some youngsters openly drank flagons of cider before venturing into the Point's Junior Cert party. Over 6,000 tickets were on sale at €34.50. Gardaí outside said there had been a few incidents of drunkenness but nothing out of the ordinary.
Inside the Junior Certs were a well-behaved bunch. "If they leave the Point Depot grounds they can't come back in," said one security guard. "So they can't go out and have a drink, and they won't get in the first place if they are drunk."
Heading towards the main dance floor were Gerard Rafter, from Old Bawn Community School in Tallaght, and Ian Kinnear, Drimnagh Castle in Crumlin. Both boys chose the Point because all their friends were going there. "Tonight," said Gerard, "this is the best place to be."