The first Leaving Cert Irish papers received rave reviews from teachers and pupils. However, because they were relatively undemanding, many students were nervous that the second paper this morning could contain some nasty surprises.
The higher-level paper was varied and topical, said teacher Hugo Martin in Falcarragh, Co Donegal. He said themes like Aoibhneas (happiness) in the sceal section allowed students room to express themselves.
He said other themes, particularly in the aiste section which addressed issues like the fashion industry and romance, were relevant to the students' interests and would help to strengthen their writing. "A lot of the themes and work would have been done for the oral exams, so students just had to brush up on it," he said. Teacher Domhnall O Lionsigh of Colaiste MacAagain in Macroom, Co Cork, praised the paper for its relevance to young exam candidates.
The alt nuachtain on subjects like "fadhb oil no drugai" was something many students previously prepared.
He said while many students attempted the sceal on aoibhneas, it was not necessarily easy. "You needed to display lively writing and get in a good ending if possible," he said.
The comprehension section was fair and welcomed by students, he said. Some of the sentences in it, however, were too long and there was a minor error in one of the questions on section B which featured a piece on Czech athlete Emil Zatopek.
On the ordinary-level paper, Maire Aine Nic An Iomaire in Carna, Co Galway, said essay and story subjects like young people in Ireland and life after the Leaving Cert were welcomed by students.
She said many of them would have been prepared for the oral exams. Using Bart Simpson in the leamhthuiscint was helpful to students and numbering the different sections also helped.
O Lionsigh said even those students who were barely able to pass Irish should be safe with the paper. "Even the weakest student should have been able to reach a pass grade." All the teachers said their pupils were satisfied with the aural test and the tape was described as "clear" and of "good quality".
Nic An Iomaire said t that some students struggled to make sense of the Donegal Irish included in some sections of the tape.
"It was a dialect many of them were not familiar with and it posed difficulties," she said.