News
Results are out – what’s next?
By Niamh Dwyer, Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors
Results day has finally arrived - congratulations to the Class of 2021! After an exceptionally difficult senior cycle the wait is over to move on to the next exciting stage.
Whatever the outcome, celebrate what you have achieved in getting to this point. Over the next week there are lots of important events and deadlines to be aware of. Make sure to take note of them all and don’t miss them.
CAO Offers and Available Places
Round 1 CAO offers will be made available by email/text or by logging on to www.cao.ie/myapplication on September 7 from 2pm. To accept the offer you must reply by the 13th at 3pm or else the offer lapses. If you wish to defer a place, you do not accept the offer, you must contact the admissions office of the college immediately by email to apply for the deferral. You will find all details on deferral on the www.cao.ie. Round 2 offers will be issued on September 20 from 10am and further rounds will continue until Round 5 on October 12. The Available Places facility reopens on September 8 at 12.00. Available Places are places that remain unfilled in particular courses after the offers have been made and it is open to new and existing CAO applicants. Applicants must meet the minimum entry requirements for the course(s) and can ignore CAO points from earlier rounds. Further details can be found on www.cao.ie.
UCAS Applications
If you have applied to college in the UK through UCAS and have a conditional offer, September 8 is the final deadline for the conditions of your offer to be met. It is still possible to apply for college places in the UK by using the Clearing facility in UCAS which remains open until October 19. See www.ucas.com for details.
Viewing of Scripts and Appeals
You are credited with the best result in each subject whether you opted for Accredited Grades or to sit the written paper. From 5pm on September 7 you will be able to access more detailed information about both sets of results via the Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) on www.examinations.ie. The data will include the marks awarded in written papers, orals, practicals, projects and coursework, as well as the various stages of the Accredited Grades process. This information will help you to decide whether or not to appeal a result in a subject. The appeals process is different for written papers and Accredited Grades. It is a good idea to view the scripts of your written papers before you apply to appeal a result. Applications to view scripts will open on September 7 at 5pm and will close at 5pm on the 8th. Depending on how they were corrected, scripts can be viewed online through the CSSP from 9am on September 11 or in the case of scripts corrected on paper it will take place in the school at an assigned time on the same date. If you decide you want to appeal a result, the application can be made through CSSP from 9am on September 11 and closes on the 13th at 12pm. A date for the result of the appeals is yet to be confirmed.
Alternative Maths Exams
Some students do not get a CAO Round 1 offer because they don’t meet an entry requirement. In the case of Maths, some colleges host Alternative Maths exams which gives students a second chance to gain entry to their chosen course provided they get the required grade. In some colleges the option is only open for specific programmes while in others it relates to any programme. The dates for these exams, some of which start as early as September 9, are available on www.careersportal.ie and www.cao.ie and further details on how to apply and prepare can be found on the specific college websites.
Several other pathways and options remain open to students at this stage including Post Leaving Cert Courses (PLCs), apprenticeships, traineeships, courses in the National Learning Network and of course repeating the Leaving Cert if you have the motivation to do so.
The National Parents Council Post Primary helpline 1800 265 165, is open up from 11am each morning up to Friday 10, where qualified guidance counsellors are on hand to answer queries from students and parents.
Niamh Dwyer is a Guidance Counsellor in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, and Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors. She is also a Careers Advisor - For details see www.mycareerplan.ie or follow @mycareerplan on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Killarney Plaza wins top golf hotel award
Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa has been named IGTOA Large Golf Hotel of the Year at the 29th National Golf Tourism Conference and Gala Irish Golf Awards.
Organised by the Irish Golf Tour Operators Association, the annual conference brings together golf operators, hotels, clubs, and industry partners from across Ireland. The awards ceremony took place during a black-tie gala evening at Ballygarry Estate Hotel and Spa, hosted by broadcaster Des Cahill.
The category winner was selected through votes cast by IGTOA tour operator members. Established in 1996, the association promotes Ireland as an international golfing destination.
Hotel management expressed gratitude to the tour operators, regional partners, and guests who supported the venue throughout the year. The hotel operates as part of the local O’Donoghue Ring Collection.
GOLF AWARD: Representing the Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa, part of the O’Donoghue Ring Collection, Seán Howley (Group Business Development Manager), Brian Lawlor (Group General Manager), and Tomás O’Gorman (Guest Relations Manager) at the National Golf Tourism Conference
Kilcummin Men’s Shed goes jaunting!
Three jaunting cars, a gang of Kilcummin characters, two unsuspecting Americans and a few amorous stags. What could go wrong?
There was no shortage of horsepower, laughs or local characters when Kilcummin Men’s Shed descended on Killarney for a memorable morning out on Friday, October 16.
Swapping their usual surroundings for something more traditional, the lads climbed aboard three jaunting cars at the Ha-Ha before setting off through Killarney National Park.
Wrapped up in blankets and looking every inch the distinguished gentlemen, the group enjoyed the spectacular autumn scenery, fresh air and plenty of good-natured banter.
Of course, their timing couldn’t have been better. With the deer rutting season in full swing, Killarney’s famous red stags were busy roaring, strutting and competing for female attention.
Some of the Kilcummin lads reportedly recognised similar behaviour from their younger days, although others wisely maintained a dignified silence!
But the real entertainment began when one carriage picked up two American tourists from Utah.
The visitors had presumably expected a peaceful journey through Killarney’s beautiful countryside, perhaps with a bit of local history and some wildlife spotting.
Instead, they found themselves sharing a carriage with members of Kilcummin Men’s Shed, a group well able to provide their own unique brand of Irish entertainment!
Quite what the Americans made of their unexpected travelling companions remains unknown, but they’ll certainly have a story to bring home.
Meanwhile, the horses patiently carried their cheerful passengers through the park, while the camera captured plenty of smiles, laughter and a few poses worthy of a royal procession.
By the time the three-carriage convoy returned to the Ha-Ha, everyone was delighted with their morning’s adventure.
The group thanked the jarveys, their hardworking horses and everyone involved in organising the outing.
Beyond the laughs, the excursion highlighted the friendship, companionship, and community spirit at the heart of Kilcummin Men’s Shed, where getting together and enjoying life matter most.
As the lads proudly declare, “Growing old is compulsory, but growing up is entirely optional!”
As for the two Americans, nobody knows whether they’ve recovered from their unexpected introduction to Kilcummin humour. One thing’s certain: they got considerably more than the standard sightseeing tour!
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