When I used to peer over the school roofs from the yard in O’Connell’s CBS, I could see the tops of the Hogan and Cusack stands in Croke Park.

I didn’t have any dreams of playing there as I had two left feet! I was a realist, but I did get a sense of giddiness as this was the Mecca of Irish sport and in those early teenage years, it was such a thrill to go to a big game there.

I left O’Connell’s in 1990 after my Leaving Cert. If there was ever a world record for the speed driven by a double-decker bus, I was on that bus. I was going home from doing a Leaving Cert exam on the day Ireland played Romania in the World Cup in Italy.

Dublin streets

The bus driver was listening to the radio commentary, the Dublin streets were deserted and the game was going to extra time. Like his passengers, he was anxious to get home to see what would unfold. Very anxious!

Nearly 30 years later and I’m standing in a much changed and more plush Croke Park. This was last Thursday for the Irish Angus Producers Schools competition presentations.

Little did I think when I was peering across the canal-end at Croke Park from the schoolyard that, as a radio presenter in RTÉ, I would be acting as MC at an agricultural event for Leaving Cert students.

Even up until recently I’d have those Leaving Cert 'dreams' – or nightmares to be more precise!

That’s because when I was on that fast double-decker home from my Leaving Cert exam, I really had no clue what I would end up doing for a living. Agricultural journalism? Are you having a laugh?

But I do remember the pressure of doing the Leaving. We all do. And even up until recently I’d have those Leaving Cert “dreams” – or nightmares to be more precise!

I made a point of saying this to the room packed with Leaving Cert students from all over the country last Thursday because many of them will be feeling the pressure in the run up to June.

It is inevitable. And while we all want our children to do their best, get the best results, go to college and get a job they are happy with, there needs to be a balance. It is not the be-all and end-all.

If there was ever an example of how teenage students could be assessed differently or how they could showcase their talents in a more practical and enjoyable way, it is by getting involved in projects such as the one run by the Angus producers.

I see with my own children the sense of enthusiasm they’ll put into something like this as compared to the drill of homework. The enthusiastic way the students presented their projects was really heartwarming and proved to me again that at times we unfairly give young people a hard time.

I would stand looking at the tops of the stands in Croke Park and never dreamt that one day I would perform there. Well I’ve had the pleasure of moderating and chairing a few conferences there over the years like I did last week.

So technically that is performing isn’t it? Whatever about hurling or football, one sport I remain good at is grasping at straws!

A night at the orchestra

I took my daughter Deirbhile along to the National Concert Hall (NCH) last week for a performance by the RTÉ National Concert Orchestra.

We were treated to two hours of Oscar-winning scores and songs from the movies. It was a real treat and a reminder that the National Concert Orchestra is a national treasure and the NCH a fabulous venue.

Do make it your business to go sometime.