Junior Cert: Teacher analyses Junior Cert Irish papers
A teacher has given their initial reaction to Junior Cert Irish papers for higher and ordinary level which students completed on Thursday.
Studyclix subject expert Stephen Doyle of Moyle Park College in Dublin said the higher level paper was fair and well-balanced.
'The 2025 Junior Cycle Irish Higher Level paper was fair and covered relatable topics for students. The reading comprehension, for example, was about climate change and young environmental activists, something that matters to students.
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"Question H on the reading comprehension may have challenged less prepared students but, overall, the listening and reading sections were very manageable. The grammar section was also straightforward and not too complicated compared to previous years
'This year saw a change with the Drama question being paired with a short film question.
"This meant students needed to have both Drama and Novel prepared, as the Novel became a stand-alone question. All the literature sections questioned students on how the events, emotions or images made them feel. Students' opinions and insights were very important throughout this exam.
"Overall, the literature questions would have been welcomed by students as they were of the same standard as previous years with no major surprises.
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'Question 6, the essay-style question, had more choices this year which students will appreciate. It asked students to write for the school magazine about either a big event in Ireland or abroad, or a birthday party or day out in the city. This 50-mark question should have left students feeling confident.
'This was a fair paper that rewarded students who prepared well and should have been manageable for confident students. This paper was well-balanced and most students who studied hard would have been able to show their Irish skills well.'
Verdict on JC Irish T2 (Ordinary)
Speaking about the ordinary level paper, Stephen Doyle said: 'It was easy to approach and covered the basic language skills students need.
"Short reading questions were about everyday things like cooking class and a visit to a concert and a disco with friend topics that students could understand easily. Overall, the paper was well set out and friendly for students, giving them different ways to do well while keeping to the right level for this level.'
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According to Katrina, the name probably changed because, in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the English often gave humorous or fanciful names to regional foods, making the change "an attempt to make it a more fitting dish"."I personally think it was a language barrier or a strong Welsh accent that gave the dish its name," she added. In Sarah Fritsche's blog the Cheese Professor, she explained the word "Welsh" was used as an insult in 1700s Britain, similar to how "welch" functioned as a pejorative. According to Ms Fritsche, "rabbit" was used humorously because only the wealthy could afford real rabbit, making the cheesy toast a "poor person's substitute".She added "rarebit" was a corruption of "rabbit" and is unique to this dish, first appearing as "rare bit". 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They remember their mother or grandmother making it."It's much more than just dry cheese on toast."Ms Geraedts believes rarebit became popular due to Wales' connection to cheese-making, despite its name being a sarcastic "patronising" English joke. University lecturer, dietician, cook and food writer Beca Lyne-Pirkis said she first learned to make Welsh rarebit with her grandparents so it brings back "nostalgic memories".The 43-year-old, from Cardiff, said it was a great first dish to learn as it's "more complicated than cheese on toast" but not too Lyne-Pirkis said she has two versions - a rich, roux-based recipe with cheddar, beer, mustard and Worcestershire sauce and a quicker one mixing egg, cheese, and seasoning to spread on toast. The dish stayed with her through her university years and is now a favourite with her children."I fell in love with the flavour," she said."When I eat it I get the nostalgic childhood feeling as I have so many fond memories of eating it. That's where my love of food came from."Whatever the roots, Ms Lyne-Pirkis said rarebit was now a timeless, adaptable national dish rooted in family stories and experimentation."Every recipe has its own story, which helps keep the recipe alive."
