Laois student who is All-Ireland basketball champ ‘flabbergasted’ by top Leaving Cert marks

A young Ballyroan woman has completed a clean sweep of Leaving Cert subjects resulting in her getting maximum marks having set the exams in Heywood Community School.

Emma Carney was on cloud nine on Friday morning, August 23 after learning that she had achieved seven H1s in Leaving Cert 2024. She celebrated her results with mum Lily and dad Robert as well as fellow students and teachers at the school just outside Ballinakill.

She admits that she was taken aback by how well she performed.

“I didn’t think any amount of work would have resulted in what I got. I’m delighted but definitely very shocked,” she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Emma hopes to study Finance and Accounting at University College Cork. Her preference was evident in the subjects she chose in secondary school alongside Maths, Irish, English. Apart from French, she studied Business, Economics and Accounting.  

“Since primary school, everything was just Maths for me…It just comes naturally,” she said.

Emma used sports to take time out from her studies during her time at school, especially in Leaving Cert year. She played on the senior basketball All-Ireland winning team with Heywood this year. She also plays camogie with St Lazerian’s in Abbeyleix and Ladies Gaelic Football for Ballyroan Gaels.

“That was so important. I would have been lost without sport and would not have been able to the study I did had I not had the basketball…Sport was one of the highlights of my six years in school,” she said.

Emma was also pleased with her time at the school near Ballinakill.

“I definitely enjoyed my time in Heywood. They do what’s best for you and if you are willing to work with them they are willing to work with you. The teachers and principals have played a big part,” she said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Deputy Head Girl Emma Carney; Deputy Head Boy Ethan Robertson; Head Boy Samuel Farrell and Head Girl Laragh Wilkinson at the 2024 Heywood CS awards. Picture: Alf Harvey.

Like all Leaving Cert students Emma is looking forward to celebrating and going to college but was mostly relieved to have the exam and the results behind her.

“It’s great to have it over and done with,” she said.

Her mum Lily was delighted for her daughter who she said was taken aback by the results.

“She’s still shocked. It’s great she did fantastic. When she saw the seven H1s this morning she was flabbergasted,” she said.

Emma’s mother praised her daughter’s hard work and her ‘chilled’ approach to her studies and the exams. 

“She had well-balanced years in school and was on the team that won the senior basketball All-Ireland with Heywood this year,” said her mum emphasised the importance of sport. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Emma Carney and other members of the Heywood CS team that won the Basketball Ireland All-Ireland Schools League U19 B Girls Final in the National Basketball Arena in Dublin last February agains Mercy Mounthawk Tralee. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Lily said Emma was very focused on her studies from the first year in secondary school having attended a national school at Scoil Eoin Phoil Naofa in Ballyroan. 

Emma’s mum also had high praise for Heywood which is just 10 minutes from their home. 

“She has loved it from the time she started. She has loved her teachers who went above and beyond for their students which is much appreciated. They are all amazing,” she said.

Eamon Jackman, Heywood Community School Principal, congratulated Emma and all who completed their Leaving Cert in 2024.

“Whilst headlines may go to Emma Carney who received 7 H1s along with Amy Lacey and Laragh Wilkenson who achieved an almost similar score, it is the many students who managed to achieve and supersede our expectations that we are celebrating today.

“It is also fantastic to see that almost all of these managed to achieve excellent scores and combine it with their sporting or extracurricular interests,” he said.

“On behalf of the entire school, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all our Leaving Certificate students. We celebrate your success and look forward to hearing about the great things they will accomplish in the future,” he said.