Tipperary autism advocate sets her sights on Leaving Certificate Maths exam
The Tipperary carer and the youngest person to sit the Junior Cert, Cara Darmody who was told what her Junior Cert Maths results were on the Late Late Show studio on Friday night, is now going to take the Leaving Certificate Maths exam.
Cara sat her Junior Cert Maths exam last June to raise funds for therapy services for children with special needs.
She got an incredible 97% in the exam.
Cara, whose brothers Neil (9) and John (5) are both severely autistic, is a tireless worker in advocating for better services for autistic children nationally.
The exam result will now propel her forward to sit next year’s Leaving Certificate Maths exam while only in Sixth Class in Ardfinnan National School.
“It was just the most amazing experience of my life, I’m still in total shock to be honest. I never thought in a million years that I’d get 97% in the exam. I really got a surprise,” said Cara.
“Meeting Ryan Tubridy was like a dream that came true. He hugged me and gave me lots of high-fives. He was amazing,” said Cara.
“I met lots of famous people on the night. Martin O’Neill was so nice and he told me that he never got 97% in anything that he ever did. I also met Mary Black who took off her necklace, the one she wore on the show, and gave it to me. I will wear that forever, she was just so nice. Meeting Jack Septic Eye the YouTuber was just amazing, he was great fun. I also got to hold the gold medal of gymnastics World Champion Rhys - it was amazing,” said Cara.
On the show, Cara told the viewers that the HSE was a total disgrace as they are leaving almost 18,000 children to rot on waiting lists and something had to be done to help those children and their families.
“I can continue to help people. I will not stop until the HSE is finally brought under control by politicians,” she said.