There was widespread satisfaction among students and teachers at the all-Irish Gaelcholáiste Reachrann in Donaghmede, Dublin, yesterday after Junior Cert results were released for the first time at the school.
Ms Fionnuala Ní Chaisil, principal of the school which was established in 2001, said she was "absolutely delighted". It was the first set of exams which students at the school had taken, and was a proud day for the 16 teachers. "Our aim when starting out was that we believe in helping every single child regardless of ability. I'm terribly proud. We feel a huge sense of achievement."
Tadhg Maher (15), from Baldoyle, Co Dublin, was "very happy" with his result of 10 As and one B. "I liked the fact that the whole year studies together. Everyone was helping to ease each other along. And the teachers were a great help too."
Alan O'Cléirigh (15), also from Baldoyle, said he had not expected to get 10 honours and one pass. "I didn't expect to do as well as that as I only got seven honours in my mocks. But I started getting my head down."
While teaching through Irish could be difficult because of a lack of suitable resource material, Ms Ní Chaisil said she believed the advantages of a bilingual education were illustrated by the strong results which the school achieved.
She said over 60 per cent of higher level students obtained an A in maths, and a similar percentage had achieved either an A or a B in higher level English.
Meanwhile, a Dublin teenager with Downs Syndrome was celebrating getting two As and three Bs.
Karl Rathbone (17), a student at Terenure College, took applied maths and ordinary level English, home economics, art and religion.
His father, Mr Jimmy Rathbone, told The Irish Times his son was "very happy" with the results. He said Karl's achievement illustrated just what could be achieved once the necessary resources were provided.