Seventy one students, seventy one smiles

Wilson’s Hospital School, at Multyfarnham, had 71 candidates take the Leaving Certificate this year. There were twenty-two subjects undertaken, including those as diverse as Design and Communication Graphics, Spanish, German, Agricultural Science and Music. Headmaster, Adrian Oughton was “exceedingly pleased” with the results. With assistance from Deputy Principal, Rosemary Eager and Career Guidance Counsellor, Kathy Finnegan, the Headmaster had results ready on the stroke of eleven o’clock. Subjects such as English and Honours Irish performed above national figures, with others such as History, Home Economics, Geography, French and Biology also achieving good results. Many candidates were especially pleased with their achievements in Higher Maths.A large number of pupils from Westmeath and Longford areas came to the school to collect their results. Among those were George Bell (Newtownforbes), Graham McDermott (Castlepollard), Tara Clarke (Walshestown), Andrew Dolan (Carrick-on-Shannon) and John Moran (Mullingar). George was this year’s Head Boy, while his counterpart on the girls’ side, Ballinasloe’s Nicola Hyde, was delighted she had achieved the points required for Nursing. She numbered Biology and French among her successes. Spanish twins Hector and Manuel Montoya satisfied the University demands and look forward to starting university in Madrid. Another set of twins, Caroline and Stuart Synnott (Castlepollard) were also in school to collect their results. Lisa Praetorius and Ciska Van Der Schalk (both from Germany) fully endorsed the Irish Leaving Certificate and contrasted it favourably with the continuous assessment system used in their country.Lesley Murtagh and Arann Murray (both from Multyfarnham) and Aaron Connolly celebrated together. Philip Butler (Street), Peregrine McCall and Mark Levis also called into school for their results. Nigel Mills, Kirsti Aust and Jordan Gilmore came out from Muulingar to school. Rachel Bennett (Longford), Richard McMickan (Abbeyshrule) and Ian Farrell (Keenagh) joined Aimee Gray and Karen Butterly (both from Mullingar) to see their results.