LEAVING CERT IRISH:THERE WAS a warm welcome for yesterday's higher level Irish paper I, which one teacher considered "the best Irish paper in 20 years".

"The State Exams Commission should be complimented for yesterday's paper I," said Claire Greeley of the Institute of Education in Dublin. "There was something on this paper for everyone and some of the topics were really lovely."

A comprehension question on the abandonment of the Blasket Islands offered an unusual blend of old and new, said Robbie Cronin of the ASTI. "This article was very interesting as it examined the irony of having an interpretive centre on an island with nobody living on it." The Irish exam has been criticised in the past for failing to engage students with contemporary topics.

"This paper was very fair and topical, with plenty of teenager friendly issues," said Mr Cronin.

"My students gave a very positive response to this paper, especially the comprehension on Fair Trade," said Ms Greeley.

The aural examination was also broadly welcomed. Over 15,000 students sat yesterday's higher level paper, around one in three of the overall cohort.

The ordinary level paper, taken by about 26,000 students, posed a couple of early challenges but was generally welcomed.

"The appearance of the word 'dearcadh' (outlook or perspective) may have thrown some students," said Mr Cronin.

"The word 'dúshlán', which means challenge, was a bit difficult for ordinary level as well. I don't think many of my fellas would have understood that."

Ms Greeley reported that her students found the paper straightforward.

"Many were delighted with the composition entitled 'My favourite place in the world' because they would have prepared material on that topic. "This paper should have posed no difficulty for any ordinary level student."

The Leaving Cert Irish exam is set to change to encourage a greater emphasis on communication and spoken language skills. The oral Irish exam will change to account for 40 per cent of all marks, up from 25 per cent to date.

The aural exam will account for 10 per cent of marks, leaving 50 per cent for the written component. The new scheme will come on stream this September for students sitting the Leaving Cert in 2012. The Junior Cert Irish exam will also be rebalanced.

Since the announcement, the number of students enrolling in Irish language summer courses has risen.

Yesterday's foundation level paper, taken by 3,782 students, was also described as fair.