WATCH: Limerick students react to their Leaving Cert results

THOUSANDS of students across Limerick received their Leaving Cert results this Friday morning with many saying they were "excited" with the results they got. 

A total of 2,669 students sat the Leaving Certificate back in June at schools across the city and county and students in Villier's School on the city said they were relieved as they opened the envelope . 

"Good, happy with it, got more than I needed for sure, a few shockers in there, got a H1 in French which I wasn't expecting at all, very very happy, I got about 576, really didn't expect that," Tommy Rice from Cratloe said. 

Twins Jennifer and Sinead from Tipperary arrived bright and early to the boarding school to collect their results stating: "we were nervous but really excited to get our results".

Sinead plans on taking a year out to compete in horse-riding before embarking on a course in art and drawing in Galway while Jennifer will begin a course in the Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry on Monday to study dairy. 

"Much better than I thought I would but I'm very happy", Shay Drummond from Nenagh, who hopes to study economics, told the Limerick Leader/ Limerick Live. 

Wishing all of last years Leaving Certs the very best of luck this morning as they receive their results. Please remember to celebrate responsibly and if you’re not happy with the results, the number doesn’t define you. There are so many roads to whatever destination you want. pic.twitter.com/AiTvFCJU2Q

— Castletroy College (@CastletroyC) August 25, 2023

Students now must wait for the CAO applications to arrive before they can accept places in universities and colleges. Round one offers will be sent on August 30 with round two on September 11. 

According to the State Examinations Commission (SEC), more than 63,500 candidates sat the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied examinations across the country, which ran from June 27, June 15, and June 19 respectively. 

The rise in the number of candidates sitting examinations is linked to demographic increases, with a 3% rise (3,602) compared to last year's figure of 131,431. 

The most significant increases are recorded in the Leaving Certificate Applied programme with a massive 20% increase, followed by a 5% rise in Junior Cycle.