The single Leaving Certificate student in Ireland to achieve nine A1s in this year’s exams has attributed his success to "consistent rather than hard work".
Killian Donovan (18), a former head boy at Gonzaga College in Dublin, got top marks in Irish, English, Latin, French, maths, applied maths, physics, chemistry and biology. He said he now hopes to go to Cambridge University to study medicine.
Killian, from Sandyford, Co Dublin, attributed his success to being able to divide his time between study and his other interests, which include playing guitar, scouting and sports. "It’s much easier to do that rather than worrying about other things when you’re supposed to be doing something else."
Six other pupils across Ireland secured eight A1s on higher level subjects, while 37 got the top mark in seven papers and 92 secured six.
But the State Examinations Commission (SEC) revealed the number of high achievers has dipped from last year, when 11 teenagers got eight A1s and one scooped nine.
The most successful schools in the country included Loreto Convent in Fermoy, Co Cork, which had two students who got eight A1s.
Two Dublin schools had a student with eight A1s - Loreto College on Stephen’s Green and Colaiste Iosagain, a girls’ Gaelscoil in Booterstown.
The Community College in Caherciveen, Co Kerry, and Mountrath Community School, Dysartbeigh, Mountrath, Co Laois, both had a student who scored eight A1s.
An excited Catherine King from Castleknock in Dublin put her eight A1s down to luck. “I never expected it, I’m just lucky I think,” she said as she collected her results at the Loreto College with her proud parents David and Helen. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I am over the moon.”
The 18-year-old - who hopes to study medicine at Trinity College Dublin - sat English, Irish, maths, French, chemistry, biology, accountancy and music.
“I never thought for a second I’d get this. I knew the exams went well, but you never really know how they’ll go,” she added.
Additional reporting: PA
