Diligence and resilience rewarded at Loreto College

The Leaving Cert students and teachers of Loreto College Mullingar were in high spirits on Friday as they gathered in the hall to receive their exam results.

College principal, Olivia Callaghan, was sitting at a desk passing out results to the girls. Some had already checked the online portal, others were seeing theirs for the first time.

For Loreto, this year was a successful one and Niamh McDermott achieved 625 points; she is planning to study dentistry.

“It’s fabulous to see,” said Olivia, “and it’s fabulous to look at the results from across the board, that everybody has got. Everyone has put the work in, and that’s what they deserve.

“Sometimes people worry about the results they are going to get, and they’re so delighted this morning. I was actually quite shocked by the number of people who hadn’t checked the portal and came in to get results here this morning. It was exciting to see them open the envelopes here with their parents and families.

“The teachers are proud, and it’s especially nice this year because we usually have the first years in.

“They’re not in yet so a lot more teachers were able to come and be present with students, and they’re just delighted to come in and meet them and celebrate their successes.”

Two of the girls, Zelie Tekumu and Kindness Evbobun, were walking through the hall with smiles on their faces, happy with the results.

“I’m honestly over the moon,” said Zelie. “I thought I’d done a lot worse than I did, so I’m happy with the results.

“Same with me,” said Kindness. “I was thinking I would fail maths or chemistry but I passed, so I’m really happy and I’m really proud of myself.”

“I’m also really happy to be in this school to show my teachers my results.”

Zelie also thanked her teachers: “I’m really grateful to all of them,” she said.

Zelie plans to do computer science in Trinity and Kindness is heading to ATU in Sligo to do a Science and Healthcare course. Their year head Sinéad Uí Dhroma was over the moon at the results. “They’re all coming in, and all their hard work is getting paid off and all the study they put in this year.

“It’s great to see so many smiles and happy excited faces today. I’m so lucky to work with such an amazing bunch of teachers who put their hearts and soul into cultivating the students. But I suppose this class of 2026 have a really special place in my heart because of the diligence and resilience that they’ve shown. We’re really proud of all the girls.”