EXCITEMENT AND RELIEF were palpable in a west Dublin school as students opened the white envelopes containing their Leaving Certificate results.

Dozens of students gathered in the yard of St Seton’s Secondary School in Ballyfermot tightly clutching the single sheet of results.

The young men and women hugged each other in excitement, many overjoyed with their results.

Parents and teachers stood nearby, awaiting news of how they had performed.

For many, it marked the beginning of their planned futures.

Among them was Alicia O’Brien from Ballyfermot.

“I’m happy with how they went,” she said. “I tried my best and doing a PLC (post-Leaving Cert) in September. I’m happy with these passes.

“It was good to come in to school to open them as we had company. We weren’t on our own. We tried our best.”

Alex Maguire (18) from Clondalkin, said: “I’m delighted with how they went. I did better than I did in the mocks, so very happy with that. And I made it into my course.

“It was nerve-racking coming in to the school but it was very exciting as well. Everyone else is so excited so you get to share it together.

“I found revising really hard and stressful. It was hard studying and doing homework on top of seven hours of school a day but we all managed to get through it and glad we did.

“My mam was very excited for me. She knew I would do well but she was very happy for me once I was relieved after getting the results.”

The students were the first set to begin secondary school in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It was tough coming through the first few years of school then on to junior cert. I think we missed out on a lot to prepare for our Leaving Cert and we didn’t really know what to expect because we didn’t get a good environment for the junior cycle that year.

“So we did well regardless of the circumstances we were in,” Alex added.

Jack Traynor (18), from Ballyfermot, said: “I’m happy with what I got. I did better than the mocks and I think I got enough to do my course in engineering.

“The mocks are a good guideline to show you what you need to work on and what you need to improve.

“In the weeks leading up to the (exams) everyone is stressed but when you sit down at them everyone calms down a bit.

“Our families were nervous and excited this morning.”

Alex Browne (18), from Ballyfermot, said: “I was delighted. I didn’t do too well in my mocks but I did much better. And I got the points I needed for my course, so I’m delighted.

“Hopefully I will go on and do physiotherapy.

“The mock exams helps show you the environment you will be walking in to and help you get ready for the headspace you have to be in and prepare for what is expected of you.

“I didn’t enjoy revising, it was a very stressful time but when you get your results it is worth it. It’s a lot of pressure on teenagers but it is worth it in the end.

“My mam was so nervous. She was more nervous than me. She couldn’t sleep but so happy with how it went.”

Alex Browne and Jack Traynor, students of St Seton’s Secondary School in Ballyfermot, received their Leaving Certificate results on Friday. Cate McCurry / PA Cate McCurry / PA / PA

Brian Griffith, also from Ballyfermot said: “We got on well. Very happy with the results. We passed everything.

“My plan is to work in an apprenticeship in mechanics.

“I found studying all right. Didn’t think it was too bad. It was good to come in and open the results with everyone else.”

Rhys Ennis, who will go into mechanics, said: “I’m happy and the plan now is to work hard and make money.

“I thought whatever I get is what I get. It won’t define my future any way.

“My family were pretty nervous about it.”

Sarah Green, principal of St Seton’s, said that it was great to see students rewarded for their hard work.

“I think (studying) is always really stressful for students. Certainly, there are a lot more distractions for young people now and there’s more choice,” she said.

“Sometimes when there are more distractions and more choice it can feel more overwhelming.

“We know progression pathways are not linear any longer, there are so many options after school and that gives you a great breadth of choice to find the right route, and to find the wrong route and go back and find the right one.

“But that can be stressful with all the choices and how do you know the right one.

“All of that is challenging for young people.”