A school principal in Westmeath is leaving "on a high" as she celebrates her last day in the role with her beloved leaving cert students.
Eileen Donohoe has worked at the Athlone Community College for 47 years, and as principal for the last 15.
Ms Donohoe was ecstatic when Minister for Education Norma Foley announced that the results were being issued on Friday 23 August, because it was her last day to finish her work.
"I said 'yes', that's great, I finish on a high, which is fantastic."
When she first joined the school as a teacher there were just 228 students, today there are 1,174.
In those early days Ms Donohoe said there was only a handful, around six students, sitting their Leaving Cert, while today over 180 students collected their results.
She said she has not analysed all the data but is delighted with the results, adding they have a high percentage of students who scored 700, or more than 600 points, a great middle range in the 400's and 500's, and one student in the Leaving Cert Applied group who scored 100%.
"Today is one of the nicest days in the school, if I think back to 15 years ago when I started as principal students would come into the school to collect their results.
"It’s a little bit different now because they get them online, but traditionally they'd come in and they’re be a sense of anticipation, excitement, the tears even before they even got the results. I miss that buzz, and all schools miss that buzz, that's why we invited them all back in this morning."
The outgoing school principal had invited the students to the school this morning but did not realise the students had also organised a presentation for her and surprised her with a bouquet of flowers to thank her for her dedication to them.
Student Aoife Ni Leochain said she found the Leaving Cert year very intense and stressful especially with the Applied Maths project but said it all worked out in the end and received seven H1s.
"When I opened it, I didn’t think it was mine, I kinda fainted. I was a bit taken aback, but delighted."
Aoife, who is hoping to study Economics and Finance in UCD, had high praise for her principle.
"Genuinely, she’s been such a gem. I’ve been on a lot of extra curricular teams, including the maths team and she was always so accommodating, with buses and everything, she'd always be the first there, even for debating the hall could be empty but she'd be in the front seat watching us.
"It was always nice to know that someone would be there supporting you in everything you did and even through the losses she'd always be there with a cheeky Super Macs voucher for us.
"So, I hope she gets to rest a bit, it's nice that she has a bit of free time because she really dedicated everything to the school."
Alicia Dillon, 18, was very excited with her 579 points after hoping to scrape the 555 she needs to study Occupational Therapy in Galway.
She said it is really sad to see Ms Donohoe leave the school, describing her as being a really lovely woman who looked after everyone, and she wished her the best in her retirement.
Another student Dylan Joyce, who was not expecting the results he got, is delighted with his 567 points after thinking he would score around 460, also said it is sad to see Ms Donohoe go.
"She was a great principal while she was here."
Two more students who received their results, Brendan Murphy and Sonny Drummond, who has modelled for Dior, were thrilled with their results.
Brendan is hoping to Business and Law while Sonny is taking a gap year to work and travel.
Brendan said Ms Donohoe was brilliant, always had the whole school on her mind and was always supporting them.
"I’d say thank you for all the hard work, a lot of people are happy here today and that’s a lot because of her."
Agreeing with his friend, Sonny said she was a very good principal.
"We'll miss you, Eileen. My younger brother is just starting now, and it will be weird not having you in the school."
'I'm really proud today'
In another school in Athlone, the principal of Our Lady's Bower, Anne Beades, is over the moon with the school’s results.
She said this is always a nerve wracking time for students and she is always hoping each and every pupil reaches their full potential.
"We're strong believers here that good students will thrive in any setting, but we take great care of all of our students.
"I’m really proud today to say that two out of three students got over 400 points which is really phenomenal."
Ms Beades said there were also some really good personal bests for students at both ends of the scale, with over 500 and 600 points, as well as passing a pass Leaving Cert.
18% of the students in the school got over 550 points, making their results pretty consistent year on year, but slightly up this year.
"The girls have put in huge effort as have their families and of course our wonderful staff. It’s a really proud day for the school."
She said she hopes her students now follow their dream, as she is a big believer in if you are happy in what you are doing then the world's your oyster.
One of the students collecting her results at the school, Aine Gavin, said the last year was very stressful but she still enjoyed it because she had loads of friends to help her through.
She is relieved and happy she got enough points now to study teaching at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick.
While Martha McSharry said she feels really good today, but she worked hard all the way through fifth and sixth year, believing the most import thing was to "get a good start at it in fifth year".
"I think paying attention in class is the most underrated form of studying, it's like effortless studying, you’re listening to the teacher and taking it in rather than being nearly asleep in class. It's helpful then when you go home and don't need to revise as much."
After receiving 6H1s and 1H2 and if all goes well with the CAO offers, Martha wants to study Medicine in RCSI.
