Scenes of joy as students open their Leaving Certificate results
Thousands of Leaving Certificate students are celebrating results day today, and many of these joyous scenes were on display at schools across Cavan and Monaghan.
At Breifne College in Cavan Town, some students embraced each other with delight as they found out they had achieved enough points for their preferred college course, while a slow smile crept upon the faces of others who quietly celebrated their achievements.
It's a great day for the school, and Principal Breege Reilly is "delighted" with this year's results.
"The results are exceptional across the board and what's really rewarding is the amount of students that have come in to speak to us today.
"We are a family here at Breifne College, as well as the results being exceptional, it's the values and the skills and the wellbeing of students that is so important to us."
"At the minute it looks like most of them have got what they wanted, so it's days like this that makes this job so rewarding," she told the Celt.
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Principal Breege Reilly, Thomas Gilsenan with his father and Engineering teacher at Breifne College John Gilsenan.Image 2 of 5
Emily Swinscoe and Amber McDonnell at Breifne College.Image 3 of 5
Back row: Kyle Bespaloe, Josh Reilly, Odhrán Brady, Ben Tracey, Thomas Gilsenan, and Cody McCusker. Front row: Principal Breege Reilly, Killian Lynch, Tommy Molloy, Pearse Tully, Ryan Owens, Paul Cooney, Ordhan Lee, Darragh Gilsenan,Image 4 of 5
Leah Wright and Nicole Woodcock at Breifne CollegeImage 5 of 5
The class of 2026 at Breifne College receive their Leaving Certificate results. Back row: Principal Breege Reilly, Deputy Principal Tanya Downey, Conor Mooney, William O'Sullivan, Kyle Bespaloe, Cody McCusker, Killian Lynch, Ben Treacy, Josh Reilly, Daire Donohoe, Philip Smith, Ronan Cahill, Louis Clarke, Front row: Emily Swinscoe, Amber McDonnell, Jessica McMahon, Iveta Petrauskas, Katie Wall, Emma Reilly, Yasmin Cronin, Ciara Neary, Deputy Principal Jason Murphy.Meanwhile, at St Patricks College Pricipal Seán Stack was extremely proud of the lads' achievements.
"A huge congratulations to all of them, we are very proud of another year of excellent results," he said.
One student who was there when the Celt dropped by, Oisín Hilton, had achieved the maximum 625 points.
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St Patrick's College Principal Seán Stack, Oisín Hilton, Leo O'Callaghan, Oisín Flynn, Louis McEntee, Deputy Principals Fiona Brady and Gwen Brady.Image 2 of 4
St Patrick's College Principal Seán Stack with Oisín Hilton who achieved 625 points.Image 3 of 4
St Patrick's College Class of 2026. Back row: Seán Galligan, Finn Keenaghan, Jack Cooke, Conan Dowdall, Cian Smith, Brian Hyland, Jamie Lovett, Charlie Fallon, Dylan Gernanaeicius, Rhys Palmiana, Steve John Joe, Alex Murray, John Moore, Caolan Elliott. Front row: Oisín Hilton, Darragh McDonald, Leo O'Callaghan, Louis McEntee, Oisín Flynn, Conor Doyle, Cerone Devasia, Victoras Smaizys, Patrick Lynch, Joseph Faulkner.Image 4 of 4
St Patrick's College students Cerone Devasia and Victoras Smaizys"We are a college that have set standards for the academic results in the town and the county and the lads have lived up to that," Mr Stack praised.
No matter what the students go on to do, Mr Stack assured them and their families that "the school will always be here whether it is in the coming weeks and months or in the years ahead."
"Guidance counselling and care support will remain open to them," he assured.
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Smiling faces at St Aidan's Comprehensive School in Cootehill Arlene Madigan and Clara McCaul both very happy with their results. Photo by Alex Coleman.Image 2 of 3
Shane McCabe, Oisín Fitzpatrick and Mó Chara Lynch checking out their leaving Cert Results at St Aidan's Comprehensive in Cootehill on Friday morning. Photo by Alex Coleman.Image 3 of 3
Stef Howell and Erica Coppin delighted with their leaving Results at St Aidan's Comprehensive in Cootehill. Photo by Alex Coleman.Meanwhile, the National Parents and Students Leaving Certificate Helpline will be open again this year to support families .
The Helpline opens today and will remain open until Saturday, August 29. The line is staffed by professional and experienced guidance counsellors.
Students and parents can get practical information and support on Leaving Certificate results, CAO choices, viewing examination scripts, appeals, apprenticeships, Further Education and Training (FET), Tertiary programmes, other pathways and next steps and more.
The text service is also continuing for 2026, alongside the traditional phone service. It gives students and parents another way to get support, particularly for anyone who feels more comfortable starting the conversation by text.
If something is unclear, the Helpline is there to help you understand the options and work out what comes next.
CALL: 1800 265 165
TEXT: +353 86 180 0685
Record numbers of students sat the Leaving Certificate exams in June this year across the country, with numbers entered up 9% in comparison to last year, while those sitting the Leaving Certificate Applied programme was 6% higher than last year.