Limerick principal wishes 180 'superb' Leaving Cert students the best for the last time

AS THE Leaving Certificate results land across the country, one Limerick principal hangs up his hat for the final time.

Pádraig Flanagan has departed from Castletroy College and the role will be taken up by Brian O’Donoghue this September as the new school term commences. 

Mr Flanagan returned to the school to speak to students about their Leaving Cert results and what he expects for his retirement. 

“After 44 years, it’s quite a change,” Mr Flanagan said.

“The privilege of being so involved in young people’s lives for all those years means I will still do a little bit in education but I’ll also travel, take my beloved Jack Russell for walks, Trigger, and I also have a new granddaughter, Grace, who is the light of our lives.”

READ MORE: Today's the day: thousands of Limerick students get Leaving Certificate results

Mr Flanagan noted how he is proud as retiring principal of the Leaving Cert class of 2024 results and that while some got the maximum of 625 points, he tends “not to focus on that” as the “joy for some children who had tough battles” means that the results were overall “superb”. 

Students who Limerick Live spoke to seem to all be heading to Angel Lane in Limerick city tonight to celebrate their results, to which Mr Flanagan offered his advice. 

He said: “Look after eachother. Be conscious of the fact that some others around you may be disappointed and that one never knows.”

Succeeding Mr Flanagan is Mr O’Donoghue, who was announced as new principal in June, formerly of Ennis Community College and Gaelcholáiste an Chláir since 2017.  

He said: “I’m really pleased to be taking up the new role. The welcome I’ve got from my colleagues, teachers and deputy principals in the last week has been hugely positive.

“The students today who got their Leaving Cert results should be hugely proud of themselves.” He noted that he is “a little bit nervous” but “really excited” as he is from Limerick himself and knows the city and the school well.

Around 180 students sat their Leaving Cert exams in Castletroy College this year while nationally, 60,839 candidates sat the exams.

This is the third year that the post-marking adjustment to the results have been added. Of the 405,171 Leaving Certificate grades, 68% of all grades increased. This compares to 71% of grades in 2023.  The remainder were unchanged.  

The State Examination Commission also announced that the 2024 Junior Cycle examination results will be released on Wednesday, October 9, which is a week earlier than last year.  

The numbers sitting the two newest Leaving Certificate subjects continue to rise. The cohort sitting Physical Education is up by around 12%, while those who did Computer Science exams went up by approximately 28%.