Roisin Meaney
As the daughter of a school inspector and a former primary school teacher herself, author Roisin Meaney knows all about surviving the classroom.
What was your favourite subject at school?
English, followed by art and French. Geography didn’t do anything for me, and while I quite liked the story aspect in history, I never studied it much and, consequently, I’m no good now on dates or events.
What were you like as a teacher?
I spent most of my time with junior and senior infants. In one way I was a disaster in the classroom because I was too disorganised to get through the syllabus, but my classrooms were always happy places and I’m fairly sure my students have good memories of the time they spent with me. I got a lovely email a few years ago from a girl I’d taught when she was very young, 20 years earlier, and she said she loved coming into my classroom every day. It made me cry, and I’ll treasure it.
Top three Leaving Cert survival tips?
• Do your best and don’t compare your results with anyone else.• Try to give as much time when you study to all the subjects, not just the ones you like.• Set aside some downtime too.After The Wedding by Roisin Meaney is out now.
Lucy Kennedy
A self-confessed “messer” at school, TV3 presenter Lucy Kennedy was still no stranger to calling on divine intervention when it came to the Leaving Cert.
What are your best memories from school?
My friends and the messing we did. Because I talked a lot, I was always asked to be quiet. I remember weird experiments going wrong in the science lab and the taste of Capri-Suns always brings me back to my school days.
What did you do to stay calm before an exam?
Honestly, I prayed. I prayed and I walked a lot. I found taking breaks and getting fresh air helped me. I lived near the sea so I’d head down to the water.
Have you ever failed an exam?
Yes, I failed a few mock exams, which was a blessing in disguise as it made me study for the leaving Cert.
What are your top three survival tips for this year’s Leaving Certificate students?
• Sleep when you’re tired. No point in staying awake as the information won’t sink in.• Drink loads of water rather than caffeine the whole time.• Take proper breaks to walk.Lucy Kennedy co-hosts Late Lunch Live with Martin King, weekdays from 2.30pm on TV3.
Tomás Póil
Tomás Póil of Man of Aran Fudge grew up on Ínis Óirr off the coast of Galway, where his grandmother made a toffee mixture like no other. When he was sent away to school in St Enda’s in Taylor’s Hill, Galway, he brought some with him.
What would you recommend as brain food for Leaving Cert students?
Man of Aran zesty lemon fudge.
What subject did you not do as an exam but would have liked to?
Social etiquette
Top three Leaving Cert survival tips?
• Think positive• Early to bed, early to rise• Listen to cheerful, happy music en route to your exams.Visit www.manofaranfudge.ie
Craig Cahill
Lead singer with Red Empire, Craig Cahill, believes in playing rock music to get your adrenaline pumping before an exam.
What was your worst subject at school?
French.
What songs would you recommend listening to before an exam?
I used to listen to up-tempo rock music before I went into an exam, almost like I was walking into a boxing ring. I felt that getting my adrenaline pumping like that was good for me before I went into the exam hall. For my leaving cert, I can remember listening to songs like Bulls on Parade by Rage Against The Machine and Bones by Radiohead as I walked to school. But I know classical music can work wonders for some people.
Top three Leaving Cert survival tips?
• Using mnemonics usually worked for me. For example, when answering questions that required five different parts to an answer, I would take the first letter of each part and make up an easy-to-remember five-letter word.• Another “trick” I used, particularly for essays, was to memorise three main points of info. But connected to each of these three points were three more. I found that having a total of 12 points of information was usually enough to create a full-bodied essay.• Keep calm and don’t overdo the studying. There is nothing like tiredness and/or anxiety to slow your abilities in an exam situation.Red Empire play the NewC Festival on 7 June at NewCastle House, Longford, headlined by Ryan Sheridan. See www.tickets.ie
Roisin Meaney
As the daughter of a school inspector and a former primary school teacher herself, author Roisin Meaney knows all about surviving the classroom.
What was your favourite subject at school?
English, followed by art and French. Geography didn’t do anything for me, and while I quite liked the story aspect in history, I never studied it much and, consequently, I’m no good now on dates or events.
What were you like as a teacher?
I spent most of my time with junior and senior infants. In one way I was a disaster in the classroom because I was too disorganised to get through the syllabus, but my classrooms were always happy places and I’m fairly sure my students have good memories of the time they spent with me. I got a lovely email a few years ago from a girl I’d taught when she was very young, 20 years earlier, and she said she loved coming into my classroom every day. It made me cry, and I’ll treasure it.
Top three Leaving Cert survival tips?
• Do your best and don’t compare your results with anyone else.• Try to give as much time when you study to all the subjects, not just the ones you like.• Set aside some downtime too.After The Wedding by Roisin Meaney is out now.
Lucy Kennedy
A self-confessed “messer” at school, TV3 presenter Lucy Kennedy was still no stranger to calling on divine intervention when it came to the Leaving Cert.
What are your best memories from school?
My friends and the messing we did. Because I talked a lot, I was always asked to be quiet. I remember weird experiments going wrong in the science lab and the taste of Capri-Suns always brings me back to my school days.
What did you do to stay calm before an exam?
Honestly, I prayed. I prayed and I walked a lot. I found taking breaks and getting fresh air helped me. I lived near the sea so I’d head down to the water.
Have you ever failed an exam?
Yes, I failed a few mock exams, which was a blessing in disguise as it made me study for the leaving Cert.
What are your top three survival tips for this year’s Leaving Certificate students?
• Sleep when you’re tired. No point in staying awake as the information won’t sink in.• Drink loads of water rather than caffeine the whole time.• Take proper breaks to walk.Lucy Kennedy co-hosts Late Lunch Live with Martin King, weekdays from 2.30pm on TV3.
Tomás Póil
Tomás Póil of Man of Aran Fudge grew up on Ínis Óirr off the coast of Galway, where his grandmother made a toffee mixture like no other. When he was sent away to school in St Enda’s in Taylor’s Hill, Galway, he brought some with him.
What would you recommend as brain food for Leaving Cert students?
Man of Aran zesty lemon fudge.
What subject did you not do as an exam but would have liked to?
Social etiquette
Top three Leaving Cert survival tips?
• Think positive• Early to bed, early to rise• Listen to cheerful, happy music en route to your exams.Visit www.manofaranfudge.ie
Craig Cahill
Lead singer with Red Empire, Craig Cahill, believes in playing rock music to get your adrenaline pumping before an exam.
What was your worst subject at school?
French.
What songs would you recommend listening to before an exam?
I used to listen to up-tempo rock music before I went into an exam, almost like I was walking into a boxing ring. I felt that getting my adrenaline pumping like that was good for me before I went into the exam hall. For my leaving cert, I can remember listening to songs like Bulls on Parade by Rage Against The Machine and Bones by Radiohead as I walked to school. But I know classical music can work wonders for some people.
Top three Leaving Cert survival tips?
• Using mnemonics usually worked for me. For example, when answering questions that required five different parts to an answer, I would take the first letter of each part and make up an easy-to-remember five-letter word.• Another “trick” I used, particularly for essays, was to memorise three main points of info. But connected to each of these three points were three more. I found that having a total of 12 points of information was usually enough to create a full-bodied essay.• Keep calm and don’t overdo the studying. There is nothing like tiredness and/or anxiety to slow your abilities in an exam situation.Red Empire play the NewC Festival on 7 June at NewCastle House, Longford, headlined by Ryan Sheridan. See www.tickets.ie
SHARING OPTIONS