Number of sets in 2023 / 2024: 2, No. of Periods per Week: 5

Department Staff: Ms Maybury, Ms Lynch

Brief Summary of Course Content

The College follows the Leaving Certificate syllabus as laid out by the Department of Education and Skills, which tests speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. The oral component of the examination is worth 40% of the overall mark at both Higher Level and Ordinary Level. The aural section is worth 10%. There are two written papers at both levels: the first paper tests the pupil's creative writing skills, the second one their reading comprehension skills and their knowledge of the prescribed prose (five pieces, including a short film, short stories, folklore and a section of a novel) and poetry (five pieces). We assess pupils by means of class and prep work, effort marks and end of term examinations. 

In the Higher Level set, Irish is the predominant spoken language in the classroom. In the Ordinary Level one, both Irish and English are used. There are usually between 5-18 pupils in each set in Forms V and VI. 

Comparison of Results with the National Figures

The College results in this subject for the Leaving Certificate Higher Level are consistently above the national average. Below is given a comparison of H1 and H2, grades as percentages of the national average for the year 2019 (the most recent year in which pupils were assessed by examination alone):

● H1 or H2 - 25% (23.4% - national average)

Possible Career Areas for which this Subject is Useful/ Essential

Primary Education**, Education (secondary & third level), Telecommunications, Broadcasting, Film & Media, Journalism, Civil Service, Politics, Law, Translation & Interpretation. 

• A ‘H4’ grade at Higher Level is required for those wishing to become primary school teachers.
• A 'H5' grade at Higher Level is required for those wishing to study Media & Communications through Irish. 
• Generally speaking, anybody applying to an NUI institution who was born and had all their education in the Republic of Ireland must present Irish (achieving at least Grade O6 at Ordinary Level or Grade H7 at Higher Level) for Matriculation purposes. Students not born in the Republic of Ireland or educated for an extended period outside Ireland may apply to NUI for an exemption from the Irish language requirement. Students with specific learning difficulties affecting language acquisition (dyslexia) may also apply for exemption from Irish.