The high achievers Just four students - three in Cork and one in Carlow - learned yesterday that they obtained eight A1s in the Leaving Certificate.
One was Rory Clune, eldest son of former Cork South Central Fine Gael TD, Deirdre Clune and her husband, Conor. Rory - a pupil at Christian Brothers College on Sidney Hill in Cork city - learned the good news when school principal, Dr Larry Jordan rang his home in Blackrock at around 8.15 a.m.
"My dad came in and told me that Dr Jordan was on the phone looking for me and he had good news, and as my mum handed the phone over to me, she whispered I had got eight A1s. I couldn't believe it at first but Dr Jordan confirmed it and congratulated me.
"I'm thrilled. I was expecting to do well because I worked hard but I can't say that expected to do so well.
"It was a pleasant surprise. I wasn't that confident about English. I had been a bit sick a couple of weeks before the exams but it worked out okay," he said.
Rory - who achieved A1s in Irish, English, Maths, French, physics, chemistry, economics and applied maths - plans to do civil engineering at University College Cork like his mother, before she went into politics and won a Dáil seat for Fine Gael.
Yesterday, Ms Clune, who put in a poll-topping performance in the June local elections to retain her seat on Cork City Council, was suitably proud of her eldest son. "We're very pleased. He has ability but he also worked hard and he worked intelligently," she said.
Has Rory - who enjoys rowing with the Cork Boat Club in Blackrock and also plays guitar and piano in a number of bands - any interest in following his mother and his grandfather, Peter Barry into politics?
"It's too early to say really. I've an interest in current affairs but I've seen from mum's experience that it involves a lot of hard work and that it's not all glamour. I have an interest but it's too early to say," he said.
Stephen Healy (18), from Model Farm Road also got eight A1s - as did his brother, Donagh, last year. "I've very good teachers - full credit to them and to the school," said Stephen, a pupil at Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh in Bishopstown, whose parents are primary teachers in Cobh.
He achieved A1s in English, Irish, maths, French, biology, chemistry, physics and applied maths and plans to study veterinary science at University College Dublin.
"I'm looking forward to it. The points should be around 550 so I'll have enough," said Stephen, who enjoys fishing and is indulging his passion by working in TW Murray's fishing shop in Patrick Street in Cork for the summer.
Vicky Brennan (18), a pupil at Mount Mercy Convent in Cork city, also scored eight A1s and she too was delighted with her performance. "I knew I had to do well to get the points for medicine in UCC but I didn't think I would score quite so high," she said.
Eamon Ó Murchu from the Gael Coláiste in Carlow, also got eight A1s. He did all his exams through Irish and said the system was of great benefit to him.
Speaking on RTÉ news yesterday, he said: "Definitely doing the exams through Irish was a great advantage to have as I got bonus points for it."
