Rory Gallagher and ‘Hurlamaboc' feature on well-received Leaving Cert Irish paper

Irish Examiner

a day ago

Music legend Rory Gallagher appeared in one of this year's Leaving Cert léamhthuiscint passages, alongside the long-awaited Hurlamaboc, on an exam paper well-received by students.
This year's Leaving Cert exams continued on Tuesday morning with Irish Paper 2, while Junior Cycle students sat graphics and Italian.
Students were pleased with the Higher Level Irish Paper 2, according to teacher Stephen Doyle, Studyclix subject spokesperson.
The two reading comprehensions were well chosen, he added.
These included two texts — léamhthuiscintí — the first focused on Rory Gallagher, and the second on sport in Ireland.
These were 'very relevant' and 'easy to relate to', Mr Doyle said.
'Both were very manageable.'
'A sigh of relief could be heard as the long-awaited Hurlamaboc made an appearance in the prose section,' he added.
Conor Mullane and Jack O'Leary after their Irish paper 2 leaving cert examination with school principal Padraig Mac An Rí at Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan
Students had an option between Hurlamaboc and Oisín i dTír na nÓg, with the questions being 'very straightforward' and offering no surprises.
Students were also likely pleased with the choice of poems in the poetry section, he said, with An Spailpín Fánach and Colscaradh both appearing on the 2025 paper.
'There were no difficult or tricky questions. Any student who prepared these poems will be very happy with the questions asked.'
'The final section "Litríocht Breise" offered good variety and plenty of choice."
Ryan Coughlan, Lucas Healy O'Neill and Finbar Scannell after their Irish paper 2 leaving cert examination at Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan
The question on An Triail and A Thig Ná Tit Orm was straightforward and focused on the main character.
'This paper rewarded students who had studied their texts well and could write clearly about what they had learned,' Mr Doyle said.
Meanwhile, the Ordinary Level paper was 'student-friendly' and covered essential topics effectively, he believed.
'There were no surprise questions,' he said.
'Overall, this paper provided ordinary level students with plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge successfully.'