There were mixed reactions to yesterday's Leaving Cert ordinary-level Irish paper 2, but teachers commented favourably on the higher-level paper. The fact that the Department of Education had ignored recommendations on changes to the ordinary-level paper was a cause of serious concern, according to Treasa Ni Chonaola, who teaches at St Michael's College, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Treasa Ni Chonaola highlighted the need for a student-friendly person to draft exam papers for the the Department. All the questions in question 1 on the ordinary-level paper 2 were introduced by quotations, she said. This was contrary to the recommendations made to the Department of Education by Comhar na Muinteori Gaeilge - the association of teachers of Irish - last February.

"This form of question is inappropriate at ordinary level and can frequently be an obstacle to understanding," she commented. "The association asked the Department to refrain from asking questions through the medium of quotes. We feel that students are being assessed on what they don't know rather on what they know. If they don't understand the quotation then they can't answer the question. "The paper needs a student-friendly draftsperson in the Department who will banish quotes and ask more direct questions." Asking students if they liked the story or to comment on characters they most or least liked would be more appropriate, she said. Part (b) of question 2 was an improvement on last year, she noted. Students particularly liked the poem Eiceolai by Biddy Jenkinson. However, Ni Chonaola said the questions on this poem were inappropriate. Part b (iii) - "Scriobh nota faoi `cuirim' (duine amhain) a usaid i line 9 den dan, ach `go mbainfimid' i line 15" - was a language question rather than a literary question, she stressed. Maire Ni Laoire, who teaches at Mean Scoil Gan Smal, Blarney, Co Cork, found the ordinary-level paper "genuinely straightforward and accessible". However, she agreed that the questions on the poem Eiceola were more challenging and could have caused problems. Most of her pupils, she said, opted to answer questions on Geibheann by Caitlin Maude. Domhnall O Loingsigh, who teaches at Bishop McEgan College, Macroom, Co Cork, called the paper "very fair" but agreed that part b(iii) on Eiceolai could be difficult for students who had missed the point in class. Teachers and students reported being happy with yesterday's higher-level paper 2. "It was a challenging and appropriate paper which demanded every minute of three hours," Treasa Ni Chonaola said. Domhnall O Loingsigh noted that A Thig Na Tit Orm, which came up in question 2 of section C, was a straightforward piece for which it was hard to find higher-level questions. He was concerned about similarities between questions on Junior and Leaving Cert papers at higher level. "Clear and unambiguous," was how Maire Ni Laoire described the higher paper. "It provided plenty of scope for students," she said. She was pleased to see question 3 concentrate on modern poets, two of whom were women. "Pupils were delighted," she said. "They find modern Irish poetry more accessible. They all said the questions on Mathair were lovely."