- 18 hours ago
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00:00Five, six, seven, eight!
00:03School. Love it or loathe it?
00:06Dad, you cannot be talking in my class.
00:08Yeah, I prefer the work than being in school, really.
00:11We all have to do it.
00:12So we've actually learnt nothing?
00:14Minus one times minus one.
00:17I feel like I've always loved, like, dressing up.
00:21At Carragalline Community School,
00:23home from home for 1,100 Cork teenagers,
00:26it's a time of change and rebellion.
00:30I love my phone. My phone is my baby.
00:36If there's one thing I would ban in schools,
00:38it would be mobile phones.
00:39Over the course of a year,
00:41we have captured the life,
00:43the laughs,
00:45the lessons.
00:47You have an awful lot to give, girl,
00:49and I hope you realise that.
00:50And the classroom clashes.
00:52Do you speak to people like that in real life?
00:53Like what?
00:54Inside the school gates.
00:56It's teenage life.
00:58You can't give up on them.
00:59You can't give up on them.
01:00This is a rebel education.
01:10Leaving cert student Luke's time in school
01:12has always been a challenge.
01:14I just had no interest because I couldn't,
01:16I thought I couldn't do it.
01:17When you get to this one, there's two ways.
01:18But beginning medication for a late diagnosis of ADHD
01:21gave him the lifeline he needed.
01:24It's brought the confidence back up as well,
01:25knowing that I actually can get it done.
01:27Away from the books,
01:28Luke's musical talent has inspired him
01:30to form a teacher-student supergroup.
01:33Who is your man?
01:34When do you want to?
01:35Do you want me now?
01:36Or at the end?
01:37Right.
01:38But the music also has a more serious side.
01:42Today, Luke will get his Leaving Cert underway
01:45with his music practical.
01:46Right.
01:47Before we start.
01:48Exactly.
01:49This is the last note.
01:50Usually I would.
01:51Usually I would.
01:52But I wasn't able.
01:53I'm not able to get it, so.
01:54Okay.
01:55And that's fine.
01:56And if that happens inside, that's great.
01:57If you can't hold it that bit longer, even better again.
02:00The Leaving Cert is extremely stressful for students.
02:02You know, it's the most stressing thing they probably do
02:05in their lives.
02:06Think back to when you were 12
02:08and you walked into the school here.
02:10Okay?
02:11Think about the musician you were.
02:12And now think of the musician you are today.
02:14Is there a difference?
02:15Oh, 100%.
02:16Yeah.
02:17That's what you're going to show the examiner today.
02:18You're showing the journey you went on.
02:21And this isn't about perfection.
02:23This is about giving a musical performance
02:25and showing the musician you've become
02:27while you've been here in school.
02:29Are you ready to go?
02:30Yeah, I suppose.
02:31Perfect.
02:32Let's go.
02:33There's 50% of his overall result riding on this,
02:36so no pressure.
02:38And after what feels like the longest six minutes of his life,
02:55he's done.
02:59I'm delighted with it anyway.
03:02I played my guitar pieces probably the best.
03:05I've played them in a while.
03:06And hit all my bends and everything pretty spot on.
03:09I'm happy with it, so I can kind of leave that now
03:11and move on to the next thing.
03:12Time to decompress with fellow super grouper, Deren.
03:16What's that right lyric?
03:17What are you waiting for?
03:19Wait, wait, wait.
03:20Go again, go again.
03:21How are you feeling for the rest of the Leaving Cert?
03:23Yeah.
03:25Maybe fine.
03:26I don't like to worry myself about it
03:28because it's unnecessary.
03:29Yeah.
03:30So Leaving Cert, you can control the outcome pretty much
03:32if you're just lock in and study,
03:33so that's what I'm trying to do.
03:34Yeah.
03:35But it's almost impossible, so.
03:37Yeah, no worries.
03:38Are you finding it hard to study?
03:39Oh, it's gross.
03:40Yeah.
03:41Some days are so, so good,
03:42and then some days are absolutely terrible.
03:43Yeah.
03:44There is pressure to be able to do something
03:46that he finds very difficult to do every day,
03:49every hour.
03:50It's just repeat, repeat, try to do something
03:54that every bit of him doesn't want to do.
04:02What's your favourite type of yawn?
04:04I hate the big arrogant one.
04:07It's when one yawns on the left,
04:09and next you can see the yawn.
04:11It's like a Mexican wave.
04:12It's like a Mexican yawn.
04:13Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:15Johnny!
04:16Ali!
04:18Ali!
04:19Will I leave you off here, so?
04:23Yeah.
04:24Your bag is in the boot and stuff.
04:25Yeah, I'll get that.
04:26Everyone in Cargilline knows third-year student Diarmid.
04:31Good boy.
04:32I'm a good boy.
04:34Diarmid's a massive character around this school.
04:36I mean, he's sport-obsessed.
04:38What do you think the score will be?
04:403-1 Spurs.
04:413-1 Spurs.
04:42Diarmid loves Spurs.
04:44For me, I don't think he could have picked a worse team,
04:47but that's my own personal thing.
04:48Lexy, what are you there?
04:50So, I'm one of the Cork Spurs.
04:53That's good, isn't it?
04:54Yeah.
04:55I might go to the pub with them, you know.
04:57Really?
04:58I play sport, I watch it, and it's my kind.
05:03Diarmid has ASD, and ASD is Autism Spectrum Disorder.
05:08A lot of it is very sensory-based, so how things smell,
05:12how things feel, the noises, those all take a very big toll on Diarmid.
05:18Hey, boys!
05:19But for the most part, Diarmid is really holding his own now at school.
05:22What's up, lads?
05:24You all right?
05:25That's good, boys.
05:26Diarmid will sit down on a Saturday.
05:29He will watch Match the Day, and he will analyse all the results,
05:33so that then, when he is talking to people,
05:36I think he's learned, through sports,
05:38how to strike up a conversation with people.
05:40I tell you now, Holly, it'll be top-class fun, I tell you now.
05:43I mean, Diarmid's excelling in the school.
05:45I mean, he's doing his junior cert.
05:47Diarmid's the same as everybody else.
05:49Diarmid, consistent.
05:51He's a student of the school.
05:52Yeah, junior cert is going to be a massive achievement for me.
05:56He really wants to be a good student.
05:58He really wants to show that he knows the information.
06:01All right.
06:02Come on.
06:03We'll go through the answers there, though,
06:04if we take out a different colour pen.
06:05He definitely knows his stuff,
06:06and he's not afraid to talk to teachers or talk to anyone.
06:10He's just very straightforward.
06:12Oh, and I'd say Pasta Caglu might go
06:15Vacario, Paro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udagi,
06:19Basuma, Madison.
06:22Do you know of people who have been cyberbullied?
06:31I think so, yeah.
06:32Cyberbullying has become one of the biggest issues facing teenagers today.
06:37It just causes such anxiety.
06:40And the Leaving Cert students want to create a safety net
06:43for the younger students coming after them.
06:46Bullying happens.
06:48If you get bullied, here's how to deal with it.
06:50Are we missing that completely?
06:51I feel like there's a big difference,
06:53because bullying has changed over the last few years.
06:55It's always, like, the adults and what we're being taught about in class
06:58is always, like, five to ten years behind.
07:00Like, the approach is always how to prevent bullying.
07:03It's always going to happen,
07:04so I think a better approach is how do we give a safe space
07:08to help students come forward.
07:10Running with that idea of creating a safe space in an online world,
07:14Good morning, folks.
07:16The school has invited in family psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan.
07:21Isn't it much easier to say something about someone behind your screen, isn't it?
07:28People find it easier to bully people online
07:31because it's not in real life.
07:32People kind of feel like, oh, they won't actually get hurt
07:34or nothing bad will actually happen to me.
07:36Online bullying is just, like, you're too scared to say it to their face.
07:39Like, they think they're a big person over the phone
07:42and they get shy and scared, like, in person, like.
07:46So they don't have to deal with consequences in real life.
07:49I think your child, you know, would never do that.
07:53They can, and they do.
07:55This is the real problem with cyberbullying,
07:57is that it's in the pocket, it's up in your bedroom,
07:59but now you're there and your phone is buzzing,
08:01and, you know, people are, you know, saying things about you.
08:04It might have gone viral amongst the school community there.
08:06So that stuff is particularly insidious and problematic
08:09for, you know, a young person whose whole life at that age
08:12is about being connected and about being accepted.
08:15You know, you put up an image, let's say, on TikTok
08:19or whatever it is, Instagram, and everyone goes,
08:21Gorgeous, hon. Stunning, babe.
08:23I love the lashes, hon.
08:25XXOO. Oh, my God, babe, you're so stunning, right?
08:29And then someone says, your eyelashes are gappy.
08:32Why does a comment hurt, do you think?
08:34Like, if you're already insecure about it in your own head,
08:37someone saying it can reinforce.
08:39If someone points out something
08:40that you're already insecure about yourself,
08:42all of a sudden that stuff is, like, it's straight in there.
08:46Don't cyberbully.
08:48Go find a hobby.
08:49Yeah, find a hobby.
08:50Get a job, too.
08:51Stop being so concerned about what other people are doing.
08:53Honestly. Yeah.
08:54Do you ever hear the term bandwagoning?
08:56Have you heard that term?
08:57Do you know what I mean by that?
08:58You say, oh, you say, oh, yeah, she's that, and she's that,
09:00and she's so fake, and she's so this,
09:02and then all of a sudden everyone's going, yeah, she's so fake,
09:04and then something goes up in line, yeah, going, this girl,
09:06and then a picture of something fake and that,
09:08and then everyone's liking it.
09:09We're all somehow joining in on somebody being, like, targeted,
09:13and all of a sudden you're thinking, like, you're walking to school
09:15thinking, everyone thinks I'm fake here.
09:17It can be profound, can't it?
09:19So fast put online, like, it's going to be there forever.
09:22You don't know what you could do now,
09:24a photo shop and AI and all that stuff, like,
09:26so that could ruin you for life.
09:28The world is scared.
09:29We better think about it, like.
09:30It is.
09:32TY student Nicole has spent more time at home than in school this year.
09:40Chronic absentee is the word that you would use.
09:43I'm in every single morning.
09:45I just leave.
09:46I am interested in going into either law or psychology,
09:50or possibly politics after school.
09:52Yeah, expectations.
09:54I'll be straight up with you.
09:56You're saying you'd like to go into LCA.
09:57I wouldn't let you inside the door of LCA,
09:59because your attendance is appalling.
10:01She's often crying.
10:03And she really wanted to go to school.
10:06Being a part of, like, organising the prom is really enjoyable,
10:13and it is something that you do get a good laugh out of.
10:17Yeah, come give me something I can feel, oh, oh, oh.
10:21In an effort to make her stay just a little bit longer,
10:24Paul is channelling Nicole's passion for fashion
10:27through the TY Prom Organising Committee.
10:30There's a lot of work to do.
10:31We have to make sure that we have everything gathered together
10:34and then actually make sure it all works
10:36and then get it all set up.
10:41This side, they're slightly closer together.
10:44That's grand.
10:45Oh, my God, them ones are too close, not these.
10:47They were too close.
10:48Then you moved it too far out.
10:50You could have told me.
10:52When she's here, she can be really, really good.
10:54You know, there will be times where we just don't want to be there
10:57or it's a bad day and so on.
10:59That's part of the learning.
11:00The only place she can do that is in here.
11:06One student who's walked in Nicole's shoes is Alana.
11:10Alana?
11:11Yeah?
11:12Is that you with a book open studying?
11:15Please, girl, I'm always studying.
11:16Marie, what are you going to do?
11:18It's hard making all these decisions when you're so young still,
11:20like, you know?
11:21Yeah, but at the same time...
11:22Like, your future is in your hands now
11:23when you're still so young to be dealing with all that.
11:25You'd hate to find yourself in that situation, 18, 19,
11:27and, like, have a dream that you're really passionate about
11:29but you can't.
11:30Just because when you were 16,
11:31you just weren't on the move to the Leaving Cert like Janine.
11:33If no one's on the move to the Leaving Cert,
11:34I didn't want to do it either.
11:35Yeah.
11:36I feel like I just don't really have the motivation or the energy for it.
11:38Like, I feel like...
11:39Well, currently, but, like, I didn't afford it.
11:40I didn't either.
11:41Well, like, my attendance has gone so bad either,
11:42and I'm not going to be able to get back into, like, a routine.
11:44Like, I feel like either way, like, whether do I do the Leaving Cert
11:49or I'll say, like, I won't get much further or better with the Leaving Cert.
11:53What?
11:54Girl, you can't be thinking about it.
11:55No.
11:56Because I don't...
11:57Like, I'm not an academic person.
11:58Yeah, but you're limiting yourself.
11:59You're being like, I can't get any further, I can't get any better.
12:02You're only 16 years of age, you can't limit your whole life now.
12:05Like, your life's only starting.
12:06There's definitely way more opportunities available by doing the traditional Leaving Cert.
12:10You know?
12:11I mean, I'll do it if she'll do it.
12:13You can't...
12:14I've been...
12:15You can't make major life decisions based on what your friends are doing.
12:18Nicole has made the decision that, you know, certain things are not worth her time.
12:23Now, we and I will challenge that on a regular basis
12:27because if she goes through life like that, then she's going to have some battle.
12:31Coming up, it's the last day in school for the class of 2025.
12:36Woo!
12:37And Luke is going out with a bang.
12:40I will do it, dear.
12:44I'll call the cat.
12:49Always discreet. Strong protection. Incredible discretion.
12:54Always discreet. Strong protection. Incredible discretion.
12:58Today is an emotional day for the sixth years at CCS.
13:11It's absolutely fantastic to see you here.
13:14This is a really important day in the life of the school.
13:17Woo!
13:19For Samani, well done.
13:21Emotional. I'm a wreck.
13:23I was bawling in the car. I was bawling last night.
13:25But it's fine. I'm keeping it together as of now.
13:28Luke O'Mara.
13:30Come on, bud.
13:32I drew a grand. It hasn't really hit me yet anything.
13:35It doesn't feel like the last day.
13:38Oh, Samani.
13:40Three.
13:41Graduation day is really important to the students, the teachers and the parents,
13:46to mark the passing of these students through the school.
13:49Oh, my God. Hysterical.
13:54I stopped crying.
13:55She started crying.
13:56And I looked over at her.
13:57And then I started crying.
13:58And I was in the front row.
13:59I was like, no, Alan, you can't.
14:00God, no, I always cry at that.
14:02But a lady gave me a tissue.
14:03Oh, my God. Look at us in first year.
14:19Smiles and graduation certs mark the end of their years in Cargilline.
14:24But there's still time for one last musical performance.
14:28It's Luke's teacher-student supergroup.
14:35I'm buzzing. I'm absolutely buzzing. It's going to be good.
14:43And I was just watching him, and he was just so absorbed in it,
14:45and he was really enjoying it, and the singing was lovely,
14:47so it was very emotional.
14:49But then, of course, he got the opportunity to play the drums,
14:51and, like, I can take my eyes off him.
15:06And you know what? It was absolutely brilliant.
15:08It was the best we had played, I think, through all the rehearsals.
15:15But I think it's nice to be kind of playing out to school,
15:17because music was a big part of my CCS experience, really.
15:20Yes, experience, really.
15:35Although he spends the majority of his time in mainstream classes,
15:39Diarmut also works individually with resource teacher Mr O'Donovan.
15:43Which kid do you want to start first, red or green?
15:47I'll go with the green ones, of course.
15:49Green, right.
15:50Can we do a bit of Irish as we do it?
15:52Of course, yes.
15:55Right. Super, right.
15:57Out with the green Gansies there.
15:59What's green and Irish again for me, Diarmut?
16:02Um...
16:03Gloss.
16:04Gloss, right. Let's get out the Gansies glass.
16:07I honestly think he's by far the best fella to have a talk with.
16:12What's Irish for player?
16:15Umroar.
16:16Umroar.
16:17Do you want to... and Umroar is he?
16:19Ah, him.
16:20In French?
16:21Ah.
16:22Ah, lovely.
16:23He's so bright, so caring, so loving and just as a quality,
16:29if we mark him by that, he's amazing.
16:31He's a brilliant human being.
16:35Today also marks the school's first mixed ability rugby training session.
16:40We knew that there was two or three lads within the school
16:42that wanted to play mixed ability rugby and we said,
16:44you know what, let's have a go of it.
16:47You know, you're not excluding them because they have an additional need.
16:51There we go.
16:52They're playing and they're being part of a squad
16:54and they're being treated the exact same.
16:55Set.
16:58And Diarmut is in his element.
17:01I actually feel like this is really going to work out this year,
17:04so I'm hoping fairly soon we might be able to get him into the jersey
17:07and get him represented in the school.
17:08Ready, three, two, one, set.
17:10Ah, sick here, mate.
17:13Too strong.
17:14That was too close.
17:16Do you want to have another go?
17:17We'll do one more.
17:21Oh, no.
17:23I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready.
17:24Like that, right there.
17:25It's not like that, it's not like that.
17:26It's not like that.
17:27Has it hit you, like, has it proper, like,
17:28are you getting hungry, do you know?
17:29Ah, do you know what it is?
17:30Just wake up, your lips is dry,
17:31you're just thirsty in the morning.
17:32Ah!
17:33So wait, so what time do you guys pray at?
17:34Like, how many prayers do you have a day?
17:36Five.
17:37Five.
17:38That's hard, I want to lie.
17:39The fasting and all that.
17:40When you do it for like, three, four days,
17:41this will come up again.
17:42Well, anyway, you can do that.
17:43You see, sometimes they're jerse, you know?
17:45Yeah.
17:46Oh, shit.
17:47Right, guys?
17:57But the exam's just days away.
18:00Alana is fighting to keep her focus for this final furlong.
18:04I feel like everyone's feeling recently, like,
18:06the anxiety rates among everyone is just really up.
18:09People are, like, actually, like, proper suffering with it.
18:11Anxiety, keep on trying me.
18:14But cometh the leaving cert, cometh the sunshine.
18:18Everybody remembers that period before their leaving certs.
18:21If you're on the couch, you need to study.
18:23If you want to have that cup of tea, you do it, but you study.
18:27If you're sitting out in the garden, study.
18:30It's just stressful like it.
18:32Ugh.
18:33I hate it.
18:34This is just absolute hell for me.
18:36Anxiety, keep on trying me.
18:39She's gonna have to work hard to get those points
18:42that she's looking for
18:43in order that she can get her place in college.
18:46Had she started a bit earlier,
18:48it might be so much pressure on her.
18:50There'll be no exam ever again as bad as this one.
18:54No college exam, no nothing.
18:56It's woods in your life.
18:58So I suppose she's trying, panicking,
19:00trying to get it all done out kind of quick.
19:03To be honest, as long as she does,
19:05they'll leave me certain, I don't care.
19:07She's gotta make the space for this work.
19:10It's a really important time in her life.
19:12And it's over to her to make that space
19:15and get the work done.
19:17What's the crack with the last few days now?
19:24Are you doing the prom?
19:25Yeah, I put up these gold and black.
19:27That's how you're doing them, yeah.
19:28Yeah.
19:29You have a future by an interior design, have you?
19:32I do, yeah.
19:34Keep your options open, but you never know.
19:36They were a great trek to put up, no worries.
19:38They took forever.
19:40It's prom day, and the event committee are working flat out
19:45to put the finishing touches to the school hall.
19:47But one member is missing in action.
19:50Nicole Gafka, you, you're meant to be here.
19:53I think it would have been easier if we had more people in,
19:56like the event planning group that were meant to be here to help.
19:59Her! Gorgeous.
20:03I wasn't in school for the last two days,
20:05but I went in yesterday to get my ticket
20:08and the place looked pretty good.
20:10It was all coming together.
20:12I feel like I didn't really abandon it,
20:14because I gave, like, a very early heads up
20:16that I will not be in there.
20:18People just have to, like, just finish up
20:20the last couple of things I'd say.
20:22But it's really good that they're actually willing to do that,
20:24especially on the day of.
20:26The rest of this week I'm not going in,
20:29but next week I'll probably come in for as much as I can.
20:32Exams? I don't know about exams.
20:39I've about a half an hour left.
20:42I have to just do quick make-up touch-ups
20:45and then get dressed,
20:48get on my TikToks and photos, honestly,
20:50and then I should be able to head out.
20:53Hello?
20:58Wow!
20:59Wow!
21:00How you look better!
21:01Princess!
21:02Princess!
21:03My mom was really emotional about the whole day,
21:06but, like, she's always been really emotional
21:08about, like, every single step, like,
21:10of me growing up, really, like,
21:12even just finishing the school year,
21:13like, she always just gets really, like, emotional about it.
21:16It's so easy!
21:28This is one school date Nicole was never going to miss.
21:32Yeah, it's actually really good.
21:34Like, I feel like...
21:35We put in a lot of effort.
21:36All the effort that we put in is kind of paying back now.
21:39Time for a reality check for Nicole.
21:42I did the stars.
21:43Yeah, you did nothing.
21:44You weren't in.
21:45I wasn't here.
21:46But...
21:47I was sick.
21:59Coming up, post-prom,
22:01it's back to a la carte attendance for Nicole.
22:04You're attending since the last time.
22:06I feel like it's gone worse.
22:12Always discreet.
22:13Strong protection.
22:14Incredible discretion.
22:17Always discreet.
22:18Strong protection.
22:19Incredible discretion.
22:25Nicole is in school today,
22:27but with the weather this good,
22:29she might not be here for long.
22:31I actually can't wait to go to the beach.
22:33I'm so tired.
22:34I'd love to leave.
22:35I'm leaving.
22:36I'm not leaving.
22:37I'm not leaving.
22:38It's 21 degrees now.
22:39Yeah.
22:40And we're stuck here in uniform.
22:41I'm here.
22:42You'll be fine.
22:43It's going up to 7.
22:44I'll lay down on the bench.
22:47That's my cue to leave.
22:48I won't lay.
22:49It's 11.40.
22:51I didn't go to the prom,
22:52but heard it was an absolute success.
22:54And Nicole, in fair play,
22:56she did everything she said she would do,
22:59but it's probably a good job that it was at night time
23:01because it was during the day
23:02she'd probably have gone to the beach.
23:04Are you coming?
23:05No.
23:06She tends to turn up for the good stuff
23:08like the proms and the positive stuff,
23:10but she is becoming a bit of an issue again
23:12in relation to her attendance around school.
23:14She's not playing ball.
23:15Chronic absenteeism again.
23:17If she keeps that up,
23:18she's going to have some battle.
23:20Hello.
23:21Hi.
23:22How are you?
23:23Come on.
23:24Come on in.
23:25Let's have a chat.
23:26How was the prom?
23:28It was really good.
23:29Yeah?
23:30Yeah, it was a great night for everyone.
23:31Everyone loved it.
23:32Excellent.
23:33I loved it.
23:34Did you?
23:35I did.
23:36John, I'll have a quick look at since the last time now.
23:38I'll look you in the eye now in a second.
23:40Your attendance since the last time.
23:42I feel like it's gone worse.
23:44It's got worse.
23:45Paul has raised the possibility
23:47of Nicole doing the Leaving Cert applied,
23:50but the jury's still out.
23:52I've put in my forms for LCA
23:55and I got accepted in
23:56and I put in the, like,
23:58I think it's the consent forms
24:00that my mum signed and stuff,
24:02but my mum's kind of changing her mind about me doing LCA
24:05and I think she wants me to do the regular
24:07fifth and sixth year now again.
24:09I feel like she just thinks I'd be better off doing it
24:11in the long run or something.
24:12What do you think?
24:13Genuinely between you and me.
24:15I think that I'd be better off doing LCA,
24:18and I feel like it would bring me into school
24:20a lot more than I would be here,
24:22like, because I'd actually have to be here.
24:24I think that all the kids are so intelligent and brave
24:28that they can be a normal program,
24:30a non-negotiable program.
24:32If Nicole was to do the traditional Leaving Cert,
24:35there's a lot of studying to be done.
24:38Unfortunately, based on what I know about Nicole,
24:40I think the impact on her would be absenteeism.
24:43I think after a while the pressure,
24:45she'll just let it go.
24:47That would be my concern for Nicole.
24:49I think you and I both know where you should be.
24:51Yeah.
24:52You just need to talk to mum.
24:53Perfect.
24:54OK, Nicole, mind yourself.
24:55I'll see you.
24:56I'm a bit surprised because I wasn't expecting
24:57Mr. Burke to be, like, on my side as much as he is.
25:00I was kind of expecting him to be, like,
25:02OK, well, if your mum is saying that,
25:04like, would you not think it's better off?
25:05Well, he's actually, like, fully, like, supporting it, so.
25:13All right, is that OK?
25:16Is everyone with me?
25:17Amy, are you good?
25:18Are you sure?
25:19Sophia, are you good?
25:20Excellent.
25:21William, you're good.
25:22Stunning.
25:23Ben, are you all right over there?
25:24Flying it.
25:25Are you sure?
25:26Because your copy's closed.
25:27Well, it's my job copy.
25:28It's just there for sure.
25:29It's just there for sure.
25:30Fab, great. Excellent.
25:31Reece, are you OK with that?
25:33With the junior cert exams imminent,
25:35Diarmuid is laser-focused on his classwork.
25:39This morning, it's his favourite subject, French.
25:42Diarmuid, how are we?
25:43Oh, we're absolutely good today.
25:45We're absolutely good today, flying.
25:47You just give me so much positivity.
25:49Oh, yeah, I most certainly do know.
25:51What are we doing?
25:53I've got some French to do today.
25:56So working with Miss Farley was pretty good.
26:00I had to get a blog done on, like, my exam papers for French.
26:07And what did you say how you travelled?
26:09En avion.
26:10Excellent.
26:11Exactement.
26:12Exactement.
26:13OK.
26:14It was like going on a holiday to Bordeaux.
26:18That's what it was all about, like a little blog on it.
26:21Il fait de la natation.
26:24Fabulous.
26:25Exactement.
26:26Exactement.
26:27He loves languages.
26:29He loves going to French and he will parlez-vous en francais at home.
26:34You're so good at languages, you know that?
26:36Yeah, my accent is brilliant.
26:39Your accent is fab.
26:40And you're very good at Irish as well.
26:42Yeah?
26:43Yeah.
26:44Oh, I just came up with another one.
26:46Le Gailly.
26:47Fab.
26:48Go for it.
26:49And you do dancing as well?
26:50I'm only joking.
26:51I know that.
26:52OK.
26:53What else we could say?
26:54Je mange les saucisses.
26:55OK.
26:56Je mange les saucisses.
26:57Do you like sausages?
26:58Oh, I love sausages.
26:59They are brilliant on together.
27:00Do you?
27:01Do you?
27:02I think she was really impressed by the way I was speaking it, I'd say.
27:11Then I just jot down my name.
27:14Yes.
27:15After acing his language skills, Diarmid's up for some more continental flavours with barista
27:22training in the school's newest innovation.
27:26The coffee dock is a major part now of our school.
27:29It is for students who have difficulty gaining meaningful work experience.
27:35Here.
27:36Hannah.
27:37Where are we?
27:38Hannah's going to teach us everything today, Diarmid.
27:40OK, so I'm just going to go over here, so Diarmid, I might get you to pop on the other
27:43side.
27:44OK, so this is our group head, so this is where the coffee goes into, OK?
27:48Press it down nice and hard.
27:51Perfect.
27:52Yeah, put that in under first.
27:53Sorry.
27:54You're ahead of me.
27:55OK, so will we crack on with the milk?
27:57OK.
27:58OK.
27:59Drunk it off.
28:00Perfect.
28:01And you can fire it in.
28:02And...
28:03Beautiful.
28:04Well done.
28:05Nice one.
28:06Yeah.
28:07Do you want to try it?
28:08Do you want to taste it?
28:09Not bad.
28:10Max, out of 10 now, Diarmid, what are you giving yourself?
28:12I'd say probably 10.
28:13Oh, nice!
28:14Oh!
28:15Whoa!
28:16Went absolutely well.
28:17It felt really good.
28:19Oh, that is good.
28:20Oh, that is good.
28:21And I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.
28:24And did you hear Tipperary ended up getting the fella sent off?
28:27He's full of the chat and...
28:29I could see him, like, even with the customers in my shop, having a ball.
28:32Oh, that felt good.
28:33Anybody in Leaving Cert centres, you can now go into the cafeteria and the D area.
28:45It's been a long and winding road for cargo lines six years.
28:49But finally, the first morning of the Leaving Cert has arrived.
28:52Do not bring your bags.
28:53You leave your bags up along the halls up here.
28:55Okay, so bring what you need.
28:56Day one of the Leaving Cert for anybody is a daunting day.
29:01They've been preparing for so long.
29:04It's such a big stakes exam.
29:06There's not a lot of things in a teenager's life that has the level of pressure that a Leaving Cert has.
29:12And the pressure on Luke is enormous.
29:19He was great leaving the house.
29:22I was like, oh, God, I came up by the few tears.
29:25I just, you know, you just feel so much for them, you know.
29:28I'm wondering, you know, this is such a huge thing.
29:30I'm sure I wasn't the only one in Ireland this morning worrying about them.
29:34I really want a good one.
29:36I probably will get really stressed when I get in there.
29:41I don't know.
29:43I don't know, it's weird.
29:45I think it's been cool to see him persevere through all the kind of challenges that have come his way
29:50to get to the point where, okay, I've put in a lot of work over the last few months
29:54and now, hopefully, it should come to fruition in the next few weeks.
29:58It's tough. Two exams on the first day, but I suppose I have the most energy now
30:01and the most brain power, hopefully.
30:03I know, at this point, stress is just kind of like, it's kind of gone.
30:06You're just kind of sick of it.
30:07I'm just like, I want it done.
30:08There's nothing more that can be done now, so you just have to get on with it.
30:10We had a long, long battle with her, but to get her here today, doing her Leaving Cert, is a fantastic achievement.
30:20Along with 65,000 other students across Ireland, Alanna and Luke get this final chapter of their school education underway.
30:33We've watched them grow. We've watched them be upset. We've looked after them. We've had great fun with them. We'll miss them. We always do.
30:43We've watched them grow. We've watched them grow. We've watched them grow.
30:56There's also end-of-year exams underway in the TY room, but one candidate is missing in action.
31:03So, today, Nicole skipped our history exam. I was meant to be doing this interview with Nicole, and she's at home in bed.
31:13She's obviously ducking exams. That's just not good enough.
31:17And now, even her BFF, Evie's patience is being tested.
31:22I've been stuck in school. Nicole's been at the beach getting a tan.
31:27She couldn't really care what she's doing because we're in fourth year. Like, it's not that important.
31:32The easy cop-out is just leaving the building. That does nothing for her.
31:40Since you're not here, we'll ask you questions on the phone.
31:44OK.
31:46How do you feel about missing the last two days of school?
31:50Not really that bothered about it, to be honest.
31:55Are you doing LCR or leaving, sir?
31:58Do you want me to be more honest?
32:00Yeah.
32:01I still don't know.
32:03And now I'm going to the beach.
32:05Bye-bye, Cece. I'll see you next year.
32:08We've tried to get a pattern going with Nicole, but it kind of hasn't worked.
32:13And what we do is we just come back again and we keep trying and we keep chipping away.
32:19I think if Nicole does LCA, she'll stay in school, she will do really, really well for herself.
32:25I am concerned that if she goes into a regular leaving, pressure's going to mount there and she won't be prepared for that.
32:32And I am worried about that for her.
32:34Chase it now!
32:36Coming up, Dermid's dreams come true as he gets to line out for CCS.
32:42That's hot! I'll call the cat!
32:49Always discreet. Strong protection. Incredible discretion.
32:53Always discreet. Strong protection. Incredible discretion.
32:57After a grueling two weeks of exams, it's Alana's last day in Cargilline.
33:07And she's ready to start looking at her school days in the rearview mirror.
33:12All done. Just finished my last exam.
33:16Every decision I've made for the last two or three years has been leading up to this day.
33:22And it's just kind of, it's very overwhelming, so like, it just doesn't hit you.
33:28I didn't think it was going to happen. Ask my mother, ask anyone. No one thought I was going to get to it.
33:32And I did.
33:33My God, I thought this day would never come.
33:36Mama! Aw, beauty flowers! Brilliant.
33:39Anyway, it's all over and done with, and I am so happy.
33:45And we can start getting on with our lives as we get.
33:48Oh, God! You! Praise the Lord!
33:50Mixed emotions about leaving, but all I know is that I'm definitely ready for what's next.
33:55Welcome to the big bad world.
33:59I know you'll be banned.
34:01See you, lads! Bye!
34:07With his leaving cert also behind him, Luke has decided to take a year out.
34:12But first, a chance to reflect on just how far he's come.
34:16I think I did a leaving cert I'd be happy with.
34:18And I don't know if it's a leaving cert like somebody else would be happy with, but it's what I'm happy with.
34:23100% day-to-day medication. It was a job life.
34:26Next is hopping on a flight straight to Fort Ventura in the Canaries.
34:33Get that for him. Oh, no.
34:36That was my, like, this is like my learner's permit.
34:39Our family is big into scuba diving from my dad's side.
34:42So now I'm off with all my gear for six months to be an instructor to take people out on dives.
34:51Oh, I'm buzzing. I'm so excited.
34:56It's time for the first day of the next chapter of Luke's life.
35:01Half of my school days behind me is definitely an odd feeling, but it's a good one.
35:06I'm not looking backwards. I'm only looking forward.
35:08I'm gassed. I'm so excited.
35:11Oh, Luke has been fine. The bedroom is emptied. Literally emptied.
35:17House will be quiet for them. House will be quiet.
35:19No, I'm delighted. Plenty hot water as well.
35:21Plenty hot water, yeah.
35:23You were my best friend when no one else came to play.
35:28We are immeasurably proud.
35:32I say we'll hear from Luke when there's mild crisis.
35:35Yeah, probably when he needs money.
35:37Yeah, mild crisis.
35:40He's a good kid.
35:41He's a wonderful kid.
35:42And again this week, so many things have happened that make you look at him and think,
35:47well, he's just a wonderful kid and yeah, we're very proud.
35:51It's also a massive end of year moment for Diarmuid as he gets to line out for the school.
36:08I think sometimes with schools people can, you know, underestimate the effect that extracurricular activities can have,
36:14whether it's sports or drama or whatever it is.
36:16Very best of luck to you, dads.
36:18And obviously you're investing a lot of your own time into it and some people, you know,
36:22they're willing to put that time in.
36:23Other people, you know, they've got other stuff in their lives that they want to invest their time into.
36:27For me, I'm delighted I can invest my time into something like the rugby within the school.
36:34And it's a privilege to give that time because you feel like you're actually doing your job.
36:38Right, gents, grab your gear bags and everything from the boot, please.
36:41It's just a very normal school that do extraordinary things.
36:46Right, Diarmuid, on you when you're ready.
36:48Get ready, get ready, get ready.
36:49Go on, Olin, let's pump those legs now.
36:51That's it, that's it, go on.
36:52Getting mixed ability rugby up and running into school, I think it's so important.
36:56It's never going to go away now.
36:57Clear out now, Diarmuid, that's it, clear out, clear out.
36:59Well done, Diarmuid, good stuff.
37:00And that's what rugby is about.
37:01Everyone being welcome and feeling like they're part of a group.
37:04You need to drop me on my arse for a second there.
37:08I play rugby for Balancholic Warriors.
37:11And my role is sent forward.
37:14Ready, ready, ready, go.
37:16It's like where you have to go on the wing and stop the attackers from coming at you.
37:22Drive on as much as possible and then go down.
37:25I need a little bit of aggression, okay?
37:28One, two, three, CCL!
37:31Let's go!
37:32Let's go!
37:33Go on, boys, get out there.
37:34Stop!
37:35In with Eric, let's go!
37:36In with Eric!
37:37Chase it now!
37:38Go!
37:39Go!
37:40Get after him, Alex!
37:41Diarmuid wants to win.
37:42He is fiercely competitive.
37:44That's ridiculous.
37:45That's the other way.
37:46Go, Caelan!
37:47He digs deep for everybody.
37:50He wants them to succeed.
37:52Yes!
37:53Well done, lads!
37:54On the build-up to him coming onto the pitch, he might as well be another coach.
37:59It's at least a yellow card.
38:01He is giving out advice.
38:02He is telling lads what to do.
38:04Put him out!
38:05Get the ball off him, lads!
38:07He is just so invested in the team.
38:11Go on!
38:12You're going!
38:13You're going!
38:14It is a joy to see.
38:16Go!
38:17Woo!
38:18We're back in it!
38:19Yeah!
38:20Yeah, I definitely should be a commentator when I grow up.
38:23Now we need another one-hour back, Aaron!
38:25I think we need to, like, keep going at him, and then we might get tries if we keep going
38:31like that.
38:32But we need to show a little bit of aggression to get back.
38:35It's time for Diarmuid to finally walk the walk.
38:38We'll put him on the pitch.
38:39It's time I can get them, boys.
38:41The eyebrows go down.
38:42He is determined.
38:44Okay, Diarmuid is ready.
38:45I'm going on.
38:46I'm going on.
38:47He is going over the whitewash.
38:49Let's go, Diarmuid, Daniel!
38:50Let's go!
38:51Let's go, Diarmuid!
38:52It felt really good, um, coming on.
38:55That brightens my day up, really.
38:58Let's go, Diarmuid!
38:59Big scrum!
39:00That's it, Diarmuid!
39:01Come on!
39:02He's going to corner flag it!
39:04We nearly had it, but, uh, we didn't.
39:07Right, in you go, lads.
39:08Shake hands.
39:09Um, hard look today, look.
39:11Uh, my favourite part was just, like, coming on and, like, helping the boys, like, uh,
39:16push on and, um, showing some, uh, good fighting spirits and all.
39:20Well done, boys.
39:21Give yourselves a round of applause.
39:22And someday we will win some more matches.
39:23Today wasn't that day, but you know what?
39:25It didn't matter because for Diarmuid getting on that pitch and representing the school,
39:29I think everyone that was there with him, that was, that was the win that they wanted.
39:34How'd you find today?
39:35Great.
39:36At least we put up an effort, like...
39:37Do you know what?
39:38We did.
39:39Uh, the best year.
39:40And we get to have three more years of it.
39:42I've had an absolute fantastic year from my, um, point of view.
39:46I'm gonna, I need to teach you to be a greedy rugby player.
39:49And I think Mr O'Donovan, he doesn't see him as a child with autism.
39:53He sees him as Diarmuid, who goes to shoot...
39:58Sorry.
40:00Yeah, I'd say I'll do it in the cup now.
40:02Cup competition, so you're gonna get greedy for me.
40:04Yeah, if I was gonna give this a score, I would give it 10 out of 10.
40:08We'll make it happen, Diarmuid.
40:10We'll get ourselves a win.
40:11Lovely.
40:23Doomsday is here, Mother.
40:24The day Alana has been dreading has arrived.
40:27I know.
40:28This is grand.
40:29I'd say it'll be fine.
40:30I'm like, my heart's going a bit like, whatever.
40:33I'm excited for it.
40:34Will you have a cup of tea?
40:35I will, absolutely.
40:36Jesus Christ.
40:37I have to go through all my major life events with a cup of tea.
40:40For Luke, leaving cert results morning lands with a splash.
40:47Everything happens for a reason anyway.
40:49Do you know what?
40:50Whatever she gets, it can be grand.
40:53Yeah.
40:54Okay, let's see in a minute.
41:00All these emotions are gonna come out now.
41:02I'm gonna end up screaming some of my results.
41:06Login failed.
41:08All right, ready?
41:09Okay.
41:10Oh, my God!
41:11The higher the number is, the better.
41:24H3, H3.
41:26French, I thought that was 04, 05 territory.
41:29Business, I did think that was H2.
41:31Home Ec, I thought that was maybe H4.
41:33Oh, my God!
41:34I have so many people.
41:35This is the best I could have gone.
41:37And it's higher, 1 or 5.
41:38What a result for Alana.
41:40Just amazing what she has done.
41:42She's a force to be reckoned with.
41:44Kerrygline Community School won't be the same without her.
41:46Oh, what?
41:50Irish, 04.
41:51English, H2.
41:53Maths, H5.
41:55German, H4.
41:56Physics, H5.
41:57Okay.
41:58Engineering, H2.
41:59Music, H3.
42:00Dude.
42:01I haven't done the points yet, but that's not bad, is it?
42:05I got a H1 anyway in politics, which was like...
42:08I always thought I got a H1 in politics.
42:11And I'm so proud.
42:16I got some crazy points.
42:18If she's happy, I'm happy.
42:20And she has enough points by all accounts to get her course.
42:23So all is good?
42:24485.
42:25That's good, isn't it?
42:266-2-5 is the maximum.
42:30Good count.
42:31And when Luke comes up for air...
42:33Very happy with the results, guys.
42:36Everybody at home, if you're wondering.
42:38H5 in maths.
42:39Which is absolutely delighted with it.
42:41So, Mr. Armani, thank you very much.
42:44To see him get the results that he got at the end of it,
42:46not just pass, but actually really well in maths and Liam Assert at higher level,
42:50it was a joy to see.
42:56You can't believe it.
42:57We're absolutely over the moon for him.
43:02I do know this.
43:04That coming out of the Leaving Cert without a feeling of shame,
43:08a sense of shame, you know, and really understanding.
43:11Even for ADHD people, that's really hard, I think.
43:13So, yeah.
43:14We're delighted.
43:15He gets to leave it behind him and move on with his life.
43:19Hey, Dad.
43:20How are things?
43:21Nothing bad.
43:22How much you got?
43:23Great.
43:24I just got the results there.
43:25Dad, it went the best.
43:26I could have gone.
43:27Seriously.
43:28You know, you see this date when you're on, like, 5th or, you know,
43:3022nd of August, 2025, or whatever year we have now,
43:33and you're like, yeah, whatever.
43:35Like, when you actually get here, it's ridiculous.
43:37Luke, signing out.
43:39See you in the future.
43:41What a year it's been for Carragalline Community School.
43:49Do you know what?
43:50I love coming in here every day.
43:52Morning, four cheers.
43:53I'm really proud of this school.
43:55I'm really proud of what we do.
43:56I don't know what it is about this school,
43:58but I just think the students have a phenomenal sense of humour.
44:02It's like a different world.
44:03It's like you're in a protective bubble.
44:06I think it's the best thing in the world ever.
44:09School is a community.
44:10It's about bringing people together,
44:12getting them to feel like they're part of something.
44:15People often say, like,
44:16it's not a job that you do for the money.
44:18Like, it's vocation,
44:19and you get into a gig like this to see kids progress
44:21and to help them as best you can.
44:23You know, I think everyone here in Carragalline
44:25is very invested in that.
44:28It's an absolute privilege to work with young people.
44:31It really keeps you in touch with what's going on.
44:34It's one of those weird emotional roller coasters.
44:40You start off with a year group that you hardly know
44:42and then it builds, it builds, it builds,
44:43and then suddenly it's done.
44:45It was a great experience.
44:50Yeah.
44:51Just don't follow me anywhere else, lads.
44:54Follow me on TikTok or Instagram.
44:55Cut.
44:56Cut.
44:57Get rid of it.
44:58Crime journalist Nicola Tallent spills her guts
45:03on keeping her nerve in the series finale of Living With Lucy,
45:07up next on Virgin Media Play and One.
45:28Take care.
45:29Take care.
45:30Take care.
45:31Take care.
45:32Bye.
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