Busy morning at St Joseph's Secondary in Rochfortbridge
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From left, teacher Sinéad McGuirk, delighted students Alex Bradley, Rochfortbridge and Craig O'Loughlin, Kinnegad with teacher Niamh Geoghegan. Alex logged on to the portal twenty minutes before it was officially due to go live - and was thrilled to find the results already up and that he got what he needs to study business in Maynooth, while Craig was beaming having obtained what he needs in order to study for a career in real estate.Image 2 of 11
Having a catch-up as they waited to receive the envelopes containing their resuts at St Joseph's in Rochfortbridge were, from left, Anusha Smullen, Milltownpass, Daniel Walsh, Kinnegad, Gracie Heffernan, Killucan, Alanna Kennedy, Rochfortbridge, Nicole Clarke, Milltownpass, Bláithín Stenson, Horseleap and Alanna Murphy, Kinnegad.Image 3 of 11
Teacher Mary Marshall, distributing envelopes of results to some of the approximately 190 students who sat the Leaving Cert at St Joseph's in Rochfortbridge.Image 4 of 11
Poised at St Joseph's in Rochfortbridge to text home his results, Joseph Kelly from Killyon, who modestly declared himself "quite happy" and hopeful of getting a place to study physics at Maynooth.Image 5 of 11
Delight all round! At St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge, from left, Paddy Henry, Gibbonstown, Jason Phelan, Rochfortbridge, Holly Howard, Milltownpass, Kylie du Toit, Rochfortbridge, John O'Toole, Kinnegad, Jennifer Crowe, Kinnegad, and school principal, Margaret Cole.Image 6 of 11
Enjoying catching up with each other on results day in St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge, from left, Aaron Gleeson, Killucan, Odhran Hand, Rhode, Steven Burbridge, Kinnegad and Cillian Nooney, Killucan.Image 7 of 11
Dillon Power from Coralstown, who collected his results at St Joseph's Rochfortbridge, was particularly surprised at how well he did in Maths and Irish, and is now hoping to head to Maynooth.Image 8 of 11
From left, Emily Farrell, Milltownpass, Saoirse McAteer, Coralstown, Ciara Lynam, Rhode and Dara Fagan, Tyrrellspass, at St Joseph's Rochfortbridge. As the faces show, all were delighted - and in fact Ciara, who wants to study nursing, joked that she couldn't believe the results she received were really hers!Image 9 of 11
Bláithín Stenson, from Horseleap with her mother, Karen Stenson, who actually teaches at St Joseph's in Rochfortbridge.Image 10 of 11
At St Joseph's, from left, principal Margaret Cole; teacher Sinéad O'Keeffe and pupils Ellen Pearson, Rochfortbridge, Daniel John, Clonard, John Rogerson, Kinnegad, Kurt Jandoc, Rochfortbridge, Eoin Kildea, Killucan and Dara Fagan, Tyrrellspass.Image 11 of 11
Teacher Niamh Sheridan, with Rosalyn Keddy, from Kinnegad, who was delighted to receive a H2 in engineering and is hoping to go on to study that subject; and cousins Anusha and Ava Smullen, Milltownpass, who aren't just cousins, and friends, but also workmates at Fagan's in Mullingar.In what proved to be a popular return to pre-online tradition, St Joseph’s of Rochfortbridge gave its pupils the option of coming in and opening their results together on Friday – and the place was chocker with excited young people delighted at being reunited with their former classmates, and at seeing their teachers again.
Principal, Margaret Cole, said many students made a conscious decision not to check the online portal at home, instead saving the moment so they could share it with friends in school. “It was lovely for them to be together, and I think they really enjoyed that. It was maybe their last chance to be all together as a year group,” she said. Parents also came along to join in the celebrations, adding to the atmosphere of the day.
On the results, Ms Cole said the school was pleased across all subjects. “There seems to be excellent results in the practicals and in the core subjects. From looking at them, it’s clear there’s a lot of excellence right across the board,” she said.
She added that St Joseph’s prides itself on offering a wide subject range, with some students also sitting non-curricular languages such as Lithuanian and Mandarin Chinese. While university remains the destination for many, Ms Cole noted a noticeable growth in the number of pupils now looking towards apprenticeships. “There’s a bit of a rebirth in apprenticeships. A lot of students of all levels are considering that route, and some are looking at specialised areas like engineering,” she said.
The points system has also been realigned this year, as grade distributions move slightly back towards pre-Covid levels, meaning fewer of the top marks were awarded nationally. However, Ms Cole stressed that the achievements of her students stand out regardless.
“We’re so proud of them – for themselves and for their families. They’re a really good, hardworking group, who not only contributed hugely in the classroom but were also excellent in school life, sport, and in upholding the ethos of the school,” she said.
Teachers at St Joseph’s also took pride in the way the class of 2025 supported one another throughout their studies. Staff remarked that the group showed strong camaraderie and resilience, having navigated the challenges of senior cycle in the wake of the pandemic. That sense of unity, they said, was evident again on results day, with students applauding one another’s successes as much as celebrating their own.