By Michelle Crean

Even though the Junior Cert results were two months later than usual it didn't stop some students from feeling the nerves on Wednesday afternoon.

Students at Killarney Community College pictured with Vice Principal Eilish O'Leary and Principal Stella Lougnane (centre) minutes after receiving their Junior Cert results. Front row l-r were: Darragh McSweeney Sean Daly Conor O'Grady Daniel O'Connor and Mantas Bendzius. Back row l-r were: Rory O'Leary Dylan Tucker Fionn O'Shea Darren Lowe Jacob Palveloszek O'Shea Luke Roche Mike Pfister and Tom Reen. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Year Head and Teacher Martina Hegarty (left) pictured with Aliza Gul (centre) and Ava Sheahan (right) as they received their Junior Certificate results at Killarney Community College on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Micheal Fitzgerald Killarney Community College pictured with his mom Breda Fitzgerald who is also an Irish teacher at the college as he received his Junior Cert results on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Murigi Karinki (left) goes through his Junior Cert results with Helena O'Sullivan at Killarney Communion College on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Smiles all round as Amy Healy goes through her Junior Cert results with her mom and teacher Dympna Healy at Killarney Community College on Wednesday. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

There were some delighted students at Killarney Community College when they received their Junior Cert results on Wednesday mafternoon. Pictured with Principal Stella Loughnane from l-r were: Eillie Coffey Rhea O'Sullivan Layla Williams Gearring Aoibhinn McCrank and Sadhbh Stack. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Thi Que Kennedy Lucy Keane and Leah Clarke were all smiles at St Brigid's minutes after getting their hands on the Jr Cert results on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Crean

Aoife McClarence Nicole Murphy and Elizabeth Fleming were very happy after getting their hands on their Jr Cert results in St Brigid's on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Crean

Tim Daly Michale Pingo and James Anderson all said they were "happy out" after opening their results in St Brendan's College on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Crean

Daithi O'Shea Bryn Flaherty Dara Stack and Diarmuid Furlong from St Brendan's College holding their Jr Cert results on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Crean

Mark Cronin and Lucas Cronin from St Brendan's College pictured moments after getting their long-awaited Jr Cert results in their hands on Wednesday. Photo: Michelle Crean

Hundreds of students across the three Killarney secondary schools anxiously took their envelopes in their hands and hoped for the best.

And the general feeling was relief across the board - some even saying due to the delay that the results didn't even matter anymore.

Fifth Year Killarney Community College student Rhea O'Sullivan was very happy to get her results.

"I'm absolutely over the moon with my results," she told the Killarney Advertiser.

"We all worked hard. Everyone at KCC is so happy and relieved to finally get them after such a long wait."

Her friend and classmate Aoibhinn McCrank said she too was "overjoyed" to finally get her results back.

"It was such an exciting time to share with my friends and family," she said.

Thi Que Kennedy, Lucy Keane and Leah Clarke were all smiles at St Brigid's minutes after getting their hands on the Jr Cert results.

"I kinda forgot it was happening today [Wednesday] but it was nice to finally get them and I'm very happy with my results," Thi Que told the Killarney Advertiser.

Her friend Lucy Keane was smiling also.

"I'm pretty happy overall. I didn't know what to expect as it [exams] was so long ago."

Leah said she too was happy. "I'm glad we finally got them."

For Fifth Year students Ciara O'Sullivan, Laura Fitzgerald and Laura Flynn in St Brigid's it was also relief.

"I haven't stopped shaking with happiness. I'm in shock that I did so well," Ciara said.

For Laura Fitzgerald it was also an anxious morning.

"I'm happy with them. I'm relieved to finally get them."

Aoife McClarence, Nicole Murphy and Elizabeth Fleming in St Brigid's were also beaming with smiles.

Aoife was chuffed to make it into the top two percent for Distinctions in Ireland.

"I'm shocked and delighted," she said. "It was worth waiting for!"

Nicole was also stunned with her results.

"I'm shocked that I did so well. I completely forgot about them [exams] because we were waiting for so long."

Elizabeth said she was surprised but happy.

"I've kinda moved on."

Tim Daly, Michale Pingo and James Anderson all said they were "happy out" after opening their results in St Brendan's College on Wednesday afternoon.

Mark Cronin from St Brendan's College said he was happy to finally get the results.

Lucas Cronin said that "it took too long to get the results". "I would have preferred to get them two months ago."

Daithi O'Shea, Bryn Flaherty, Dara Stack and Diarmuid Furlong also from St Brendan's College said they were glad to get them.

"I'm happy out. I did well enough," Dara said.

Diarmuid added that he's "very happy".

"I'm very happy with my results. I didn't mind waiting that long, it's good to finally get them."

Principal of Killarney Community College, Stella Loughnane, said that the Junior Cert results are "important" and "serve as a huge milestone in young students' lives".

"I believe that the students who received their results this year should be commended for their commitment to learning in the midst of a pandemic and limited teaching time within the classroom at various stages in their junior cycle," she told the Killarney Advertiser.

"This group has been through it all. Their excellent academic achievements and resilience will serve them well as they continue their academic journey into the Leaving Cert cycle. I am immensely proud of my students and dedicated staff. These Junior Cert results are important and serve as a huge milestone in our young students' lives. It's important to celebrate and acknowledge all our pupils achievements while in school. I don't think the date the results came out on can take away from that."