Leaving Certificate Gaeilge develops students' ability to use Irish actively and confidently across speaking, listening, reading and writing. It also builds engagement with literature and with the role of Irish in the bilingual society of Ireland.
The subject rewards regular language use. Students develop communication skills, vocabulary, grammar and literary understanding while learning to express ideas accurately and naturally in different formats.
At Ordinary Level and Higher Level, the oral examination is worth 40%, Paper 1 is worth 27% and Paper 2 is worth 33%. Paper 1 assesses Cluastuiscint and Ceapadoireacht, while Paper 2 assesses Leamhthuiscint and literature components. Curriculum Online states that Irish is assessed at Foundation, Ordinary and Higher Level, with the oral examination worth 40% at each level.
No new Leaving Certificate Gaeilge specification or confirmed 2027 assessment change is currently published on Curriculum Online. As of May 24, 2026, the current revised syllabus and assessment structure remain the official course.
The current official syllabus and assessment structure organise study around the following areas:
Oral Irish: conversation, communication, fluency, pronunciation and the ability to discuss familiar themes with confidence.
Listening comprehension: understanding spoken Irish, identifying key information and responding accurately to aural material.
Reading comprehension: understanding prose passages, vocabulary, question requirements and evidence in written Irish.
Prose study: prescribed prose, comprehension, character, theme, style and clear written responses.
Poetry study: prescribed poems, meaning, imagery, theme, language and structured literary answers.
Additional literature: extended engagement with prescribed literary material where required by level and course route.
Foundation, Ordinary and Higher Level, including an oral examination worth 40 percent.
Zr Academy offers Irish grinds in Dublin 2 and online for students who want better oral fluency, stronger written Irish and more confident literature answers.
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