More than 1,700 pupils sat GCSE Irish this year, with the language recording the highest pass rate of any modern language subject in Northern Ireland.

Of the 1,707 pupils who sat Irish, 94.8 per cent achieved grades A* to C. This compared with 92.5 per cent for Spanish, 91.5 per cent for German and 86.5 per cent for French. An additional 322 pupils sat the more advanced Gaeilge exam, with a pass rate of 90.7 per cent.

Séamas Mac Eochaidh, education policy manager with Gael Linn, said the results reflected continued hard work by Irish teachers and a strong Irish-medium education system. He said the number of pupils sitting Irish rose by 11 per cent from the previous year, despite an overall fall in GCSE entries. Mac Eochaidh added that more schools should offer Irish to maintain growth and that every pupil should have the opportunity to learn the language.

In Belfast, several schools reported strong individual performances. At De La Salle College in Andersonstown, acting principal Aine Best said she was pleased with the results after challenges faced by pupils who were in Year 8 when Covid hit. Pupil Trea McFarlane said he was satisfied with his grades and planned to study English, politics and media at A-level.

At St Louise's Comprehensive College, Aoibhinn Press achieved nine A* grades and planned to take A-levels in chemistry, biology, maths and Irish. Fellow pupil Olivia McDonagh obtained four As and five Bs and planned to study business studies, economics and geography.

St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School reported that 91 per cent of pupils achieved at least five passes at grades A to C or equivalent, with exceptional performances from Alan Yu Xuan and Kealan McCrea. Hazelwood Integrated College said 95 per cent of students achieved five or more GCSEs at A to C, including 68 per cent in English and 73 per cent in mathematics. Edmund Rice College in Glengormley reported its best-ever set of results, with 99 per cent of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs and 73 per cent achieving both English and mathematics.