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The oral and the two papers
Irish is examined at Higher (Ardleibhéal), Ordinary (Gnáthleibhéal) and Foundation (Bonnleibhéal) level. At Higher and Ordinary there's an oral and two written papers, 600 marks in all, per the Department's Assessment Arrangements 2027:
| Component | Part | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| An Bhéaltriail Oral, 240 marks | An Fáiltiú (Greeting) | 5 |
| Léamh na Filíochta (Reading one of the five prescribed poems) | 35 | |
| An Comhrá (Conversation) | 120 | |
| An tSraith Pictiúr (Picture series) | 80 | |
| Páipéar 1 Paper 1, 160 marks | An Chluastuiscint (Listening comprehension) | 60 |
| An Cheapadóireacht (Composition) | 100 | |
| Páipéar 2 Paper 2, 200 marks | An Léamhthuiscint (Reading comprehension (two pieces)) | 100 |
| An Litríocht (Literature: prose, poetry and, at Higher Level, Litríocht Bhreise) | 100 |
At Foundation level there's an oral worth 240 marks and one 360-mark paper covering listening (120), reading (150) and writing (90). There's no prescribed literature at Foundation.
What changes in Irish in 2027?
Paper 1 is unchanged. The oral has fewer picture series to prepare, and Paper 2 has more choice, under the Assessment Arrangements 2027.
| Part (marks) | Usual | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Oral: An tSraith Pictiúr (80) | Prepare all 20 picture series | Prepare 10 of the 20 |
| Paper 1 | Listening 60, composition 100 | No change |
| Paper 2, Q1: Léamhthuiscint (100) | Two comprehension pieces | No change |
| Paper 2, Q2: Prós (30) | One compulsory question on a prescribed work (2A) or on an optional work (2B) | Two questions on prescribed works and two on optional works: answer one |
| Paper 2, Q3: Filíocht (30) | One compulsory question on a prescribed poem (3A) or on an optional poem (3B) | Two questions on prescribed poems and two on optional poems: answer one |
| Paper 2, Q4: Litríocht Bhreise (40) | One question, on one of the six prescribed works | No change |
| Part (marks) | Usual | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Oral: An tSraith Pictiúr (80) | Prepare all 20 picture series | Prepare 10 of the 20 |
| Paper 1 | Listening 60, composition 100 | No change |
| Paper 2, Q1: Léamhthuiscint (100) | Two comprehension pieces | No change |
| Paper 2, Q2: Prós (50) | Both compulsory questions on two prescribed works, or both on two optional works | Three questions on prescribed works and three on optional works: answer two |
| Paper 2, Q3: Filíocht (50) | Both compulsory questions on two prescribed poems, or both on two optional poems | Three questions on prescribed poems and three on optional poems: answer two |
| Part (marks) | Usual | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Oral (240) | Four topic blocks | No change |
| Listening (120) and reading (150) | As usual | No change |
| Writing: Scríobh na Teanga (90) | One task from Q4 (40 marks) and one from Q5 (50 marks) | Any two of 4(a), 4(b), 5(a) and 5(b), 45 marks each |
The Sraith Pictiúr is still worth 80 marks. The other parts of the oral (Fáiltiú, Léamh na Filíochta, Comhrá) don't change.
Prescribed prose 2027 (Prós Ainmnithe)
The same five items at Higher and Ordinary level, from circular 0041/2026. Where there's a choice, you study one:
- Clann Lir, Séamus Ó Searcaigh
- Athair, Mícheál Ó Conghaile or Glantóir, Seán Ó Muireagáin or An Bóthar go Santiago, Mícheál de Barra (travel diary extract)
- Cuairteoir, Orna Ní Choileáin
- An tIriseoir, Michelle Nic Pháidín
- Eoinín na nÉan, ROSG films, 2013 (short film, on the TG4 Player) or An Féileacán agus an Crann Úll, Mícheál Mac Cárthaigh (play)
Or the optional course (Prós Roghnach): your teacher can choose five prose pieces instead, one of each type:
- A folklore extract
- A short story
- An extract from a novel
- An extract from an autobiography
- Drama (or an extract of a drama), or an Irish film
They must be original Irish-language, published texts that are easy to get. Translations, texts prescribed for Junior Cycle Irish, and the prescribed prose above can't be used for the optional course.
Prescribed poems 2027 (Filíocht Ainmnithe)
Five poems, the same at Higher and Ordinary level. You also read one of them aloud in the oral (Léamh na Filíochta, 35 marks).
| Poem | Poet |
|---|---|
| Dínit an Bhróin | Máirtín Ó Direáin |
| Deireadh na Feide | Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh |
| Iníon | Áine Durkin |
| Glaoch Abhaile | Áine Ní Ghlinn |
| Úirchill an Chreagáin | Airt Mac Cumhaidh |
Or the optional course (Filíocht Roghnach): at least five poems, with at least one composed before 1850, chosen under the same kind of rules as the optional prose.
Litríocht Bhreise (Higher Level only)
Higher Level students study one item of additional prose or all five additional poems (or both). You answer one section in the exam, for 40 marks.
Prós Breise: one of
- Cóirín na dTonn, Celia de Fréine
- An Nollaig Thiar, Breandán Ó hEithir
- Deirdre, Darach Ó Scolaí
- Dordán, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne
- Bláth na dTulach, ed. Réaltán Ní Leannáin (five named short stories)
Filíocht Bhreise: all five
- Trén bhFearann Breac, Colm Breathnach
- Eanáir 1991, Biddy Jenkinson
- Ag Tiomáint Siar, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill
- Dijeridiú, Louis de Paor
- Anthony Daly, Antaine Raiftearaí
There's no separate History of Irish Literature question, but the circular says short questions may be asked on the author, background and context of the works you studied.
Oral and exam dates, and past papers
The SEC sets the dates for the oral and the written papers, and it hasn't published the 2027 dates yet. Your school will tell you your own oral date. We'll add the 2027 dates here the day the SEC publishes them: see the Leaving Cert 2027 timetable.
Past papers and marking schemes are free in the SEC's Examination Material Archive. Older papers may ask about different texts and have less choice than in 2027, so use them for the question styles. See how to find past papers.
Questions people ask
How much is the Leaving Cert Irish oral worth?
240 of 600 marks, or 40%, at Higher, Ordinary and Foundation level. At Higher and Ordinary the marks are: An Fáiltiú 5, Léamh na Filíochta 35, An Comhrá 120 and An tSraith Pictiúr 80.
How many Sraith Pictiúr do you prepare for 2027?
Ten of the 20. The Department of Education and Youth's Assessment Arrangements 2027 say each candidate at Higher and Ordinary level will prepare 10 of the 20 Sraith Pictiúr for 2027, instead of all 20. The picture series is still worth 80 marks.
What are the Leaving Cert Irish prescribed poems for 2027?
Dínit an Bhróin (Máirtín Ó Direáin), Deireadh na Feide (Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh), Iníon (Áine Durkin), Glaoch Abhaile (Áine Ní Ghlinn) and Úirchill an Chreagáin (Airt Mac Cumhaidh). They are the same at Higher and Ordinary level, and you read one of them aloud in the oral.
What is the Leaving Cert Irish prescribed prose for 2027?
Clann Lir (Séamus Ó Searcaigh); Athair (Mícheál Ó Conghaile) or Glantóir (Seán Ó Muireagáin) or An Bóthar go Santiago (Mícheál de Barra); Cuairteoir (Orna Ní Choileáin); An tIriseoir (Michelle Nic Pháidín); Eoinín na nÉan (ROSG films, 2013) or An Féileacán agus an Crann Úll (Mícheál Mac Cárthaigh). Where a choice is given, you study one of the works.
What changes on the Leaving Cert Irish papers in 2027?
Paper 1 is unchanged. On Paper 2 there is more choice in prose and poetry: at Higher Level you answer one of two questions (on prescribed or optional work), and at Ordinary Level two of three. Litríocht Bhreise is unchanged. At Foundation level only the writing section changes: any two of four tasks, 45 marks each.
When is the Leaving Cert Irish oral in 2027?
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) sets the oral dates and has not published the 2027 Leaving Cert dates yet (checked 31 October 2026). Your school will tell you your own oral date. We add the dates the day the SEC publishes them.