Daniel O'Donnell, computers and Mr Bean failed to confound but they did exhaust students sitting their Irish exam yesterday morning. They emerged from exam centres tired but satisfied after a gruelling two hours grappling with abstract poems and high-tech prose passages.
Their hands were aching from all the writing but Junior Cert students were "happy enough". The higher-level paper was a long and challenging exam, their teachers reported. The paper was testing but suitable, according to Treasa Ni Chonaola, a teacher at St Michael's College in Ballsbridge, Dublin. "Bhi se duthlanach ach deas," a duirt si.
The Department of Education and Science seems particularly partial to Daniel O'Donnell, says Treasa Ni Chonaola. "Bionn se ann chuile bliain," dar lei. The cool, clean singer from Cionn Caslach in Co Donegal featured again this year on the Junior Cert paper. Also in the same comprehension section were Mr Bean, C U Burn of TnaG fame and Maire Mhic Roibin, iaruachtaran na hEireann. Bhi na ceisteanna sa chuid seo den phaipear "go brea" agus bhi na litreacha i Roinn 1V "go halainn".
Trid is trid, afach, cheap a scolair i go raibh an paipear "sach fada", a duirt Treasa Ni Chonaola.
Duirt Treasa Ni Chonaola go raibh "an chead cheist oiriunach doibh o thaobh abhair agus aoise de". "Bhi baint aige le scannan," a mhinigh si. Bhi an cheist ar phros "duthl anach ach bionn siad ullamh do agus ni raibh aon fhadhb acu ce go raibh se deacair". The poetry, she said, was another matter altogether. The poem, Treall, was abstract and more suited to Leaving Cert students, she said. In fact, this poem was on the Leaving Cert course some years ago, she said. "Bhi se siomballach agus teibi," dar lei. It was too difficult for students and this caused a lot of difficulty. "Bhi Claon Me Mo Cheann, an dan eile, nios oiriuna i," a duirt si.
According to Maire Ni Laoire, ASTI subject representative and a teacher at Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal in Blarney, Co Cork, the paper was challenging and manageable. "Paip ear fada a bhi ann," aduirt si. Ach maidir le Treall, dan le Caitlin Maude, duirt si go raibh "an tabhar roteibi".
As to foundation level, there were no problems with the written part and students were delighted with the aural.
"There were no suprises on the foundation level paper," said Maire Ni Laoire. The layout and the subjects that were accompanied by pictures, which included one of Mother Teresa and another of Roy Keane, were "sasuil" and correctly pitched at foundation level students, she said. Duirt Treasa Ni Chonaola gur thaitin an paipear leis na scolairi. "Bhi siad thar a bheith sasta leis agus ni raibh aon fhadhb acu leis an teip." Domhnall O Loingsigh, an Irish teacher at Colaiste Mac Aogain in Macroom, Co Cork, agreed that the higher-level paper 2 was very long. He also felt that the questions were similar to the kind of questions on the Leaving Cert papers. Bhi na danta roghnach "ceart go leor" ach cheap se go raibh an dan, Treall, rotheibi agus deacair. The glossary of words was helpful but he said it was a pity that the word itself - treall - was not explained.
