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Poll: Does the Leaving Cert matter?

Almost 58,000 students will sit their final school exams this morning. But does it matter in the big scheme of things?

ALMOST 58,000 STUDENTS will start their final school exams today.

Students will sit the Leaving Certificate, the Leaving Certificate Applied, and the LCVP exams at centres across the country.

In many cases, the results will determine what the students go on to do in their immediate futures. However, as many people who have sat the exams tell you, the Leaving Cert is just the first step in a long career and doesn’t always act as a determinant in where you end up.

So we’re asking: Does the Leaving Cert matter?


Poll Results:

It's important in the short term but not the long term (5477)
Yes, it's very important (3057)
No (1374)

What do you think? Let us know in the comments

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74 Comments
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    Mute Gus McIntosh
    Favourite Gus McIntosh
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    Dec 18th 2021, 7:15 AM

    I love Christmas but this article resonates on some points and I am sure will do the same for many,
    I would add:
    Try and get 30mins exercise in each day. A brisk walk will be fine. It keeps the mince pies at bay and boosts your mood. Double whammy.
    And remember, if it is not a good time of year, it is short lived. It’ll be over soon.

    202
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    Mute Contrary Mary
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    Dec 18th 2021, 12:15 PM

    @Gus McIntosh: I may or may not call clients in my pj’s on my exercise bike when it’s raining.

    6
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    Mute James Fox
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    Dec 18th 2021, 7:11 AM

    Stop listening to RTÉ news headlines and Clare Byrne

    180
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    Mute Daniel O'Neill
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    Dec 18th 2021, 9:49 PM

    @James Fox: advice for life, not just Christmas

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    Mute Twitruser2021
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    Dec 18th 2021, 8:06 AM

    Dare to hope! Life and love will prevail.

    52
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    Mute Sean Kirwan
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    Dec 18th 2021, 10:31 AM

    We really are all in this together, look after yourself and your loved ones and don’t put any unneeded pressure on yourself. It’s Christmas, there’s one every year.

    26
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    Mute Fergal McDonagh
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    Dec 18th 2021, 1:47 PM

    @Sean Kirwan: we’re not though. At all.

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    Mute Daniel O'Neill
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    Dec 18th 2021, 9:50 PM

    @Fergal McDonagh: bit if you try real hard when you close your eyes you can convince yourself that we are. Then get back to ignoring the horrible truths in society. Sure its Christmas….Best time of the year to paint over the cracks till next year.

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    Mute Becky Mary
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    Dec 18th 2021, 11:33 AM

    Great article and very helpful thank you.

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Dec 18th 2021, 10:20 AM

    A whole industry really has grown around the lack of mental wellness that is being driven by contaminants in our food and other man made chemicals we did not evolve to exist with. What we eat, drink and breathe is making us sick and there is no shortage of experts who proclaim to understand our anxiety as an emotion whereas for many it is likely an artificial sensation of fear being triggered by chemicals in our food, drink, breathing air and personal care products. Anxiety is not mental it is immunological for many if not most.

    https://mcas.ie/?page_id=276

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    Mute Lee King Buckett
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    Dec 18th 2021, 10:42 AM

    @Gavin Tobin: It can’t be all down to that at all. For an example, watch a few episodes of the Flintstones – Barney Rubble was clearly of a very nervous disposition, constantly worried about things going wrong.

    That was a few million years before processed foods and diesel particulates.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Dec 18th 2021, 4:22 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: Personally I’m fed up with the constant touting of “detox” products. Our bodies have perfectly functional livers and kidneys and no one needs plastic patches of colour-changing gunk to “filter” any alleged toxins. I wouldn’t take them if they were free, but they’re obviously very lucrative for the sellers to impulse buyers with no notion of human biology at all.

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Dec 19th 2021, 8:11 PM

    @Fiona Fitzgerald: Yea I’ve seen some fall recently for the ear candle scam which are sold by reputable pharmacies like Boots etc.

    One major problem is listed allergens like SO2/Sulphites can be legally hidden and for some this is an overlooked problem.

    For example 10% of asthmatics are believed to have a SO2/Sulphite allergy so our food safety laws expose them to a known listed allergen that is hidden from food labelling.

    A little bit of inflammation can drive inflammation of CNS driving allergy in particular. Liver & kidneys can’t help here.

    1
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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Dec 19th 2021, 8:42 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: What an absolute load. Being prone to anxiety is a consequence of bad past experiences or just their natural disposition. Some people are naturally pessimistic or wary and never believe good things can happen without ten bad things ruining it afterwards. They might have low self esteem and are convinced they don’t deserve to feel relaxed or happy about anything, and when they do, they dont feel that way for long. Some people think life is empty and meaningless and will feel despair and anxiety over that. Blaming peoples anxiety on what they ingest is completely undermining their anxiety. I feel anxiety constantly, and believe me, its got nothing to do with what i eat and drink and everything to do with my life and the effect its had on me.

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