Aural - Fógra (Announcement)

Format, Rubric, and Section Structure

Cuid A consists of two distinct announcements, labelled Fógra a hAon and Fógra a Dó. Each announcement is read twice at normal broadcast speed, separated by short pauses to give you time to read questions, note key facts, and complete your answers.

You are never asked to write a fógra at Higher Level. The Ceapadóireacht on Paper 1 offers an aiste or alt nuachtáin/irise (A), a scéal (B), or a díospóireacht or óráid (C). In the Cluastuiscint, your only job with a fógra is to listen and extract factual details. Spoken notices pack dense organizational, temporal, and financial information into a few sentences. All answers must be written in Irish; answers in English receive zero marks.

Focail an Pháipéir (Standard Paper Wording)

• CUID A — Fógraí: The section header.
• Cloisfidh tú gach fógra faoi dhó: You will hear each announcement twice.
• Bunaithe ar Fhógra a hAon / a Dó...: Based on Announcement One / Two...
• Cé a chuir amach an fógra seo? or Cé a d'eagraigh...?: Who issued / organised this notice?
• Scríobh síos dhá... / Luaigh dhá...: Write down two... / Mention two...

Riar na Marcanna (Marking Principles)

Each separate piece of information is normally worth 2 marks. A question asking for dhá rud is worth 4 marks (2 + 2). Answers do not need to be full grammatical sentences; a short phrase, number with units, or date is sufficient. Minor spelling slips that do not obscure the meaning are not penalized. Where the recording gives a specific phrase (such as scileanna maithe cumarsáide), write down those exact words. Never leave a blank space—there is no negative marking, and partial credit is frequently awarded (for example, 'RTÉ' earned 1 of 2 marks when the full answer was 'RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta').

Question Stems, Interrogatives, and Logical Triggers

Matching the interrogative stem to the specific piece of data required prevents category mistakes, such as offering an admission price when asked for an hourly wage.

Essential Vocabulary: Calendar, Counting, and Application Details

Dátaí agus Laethanta (Dates and Days)

You may write dates and times in numerical figures (e.g. 21 Meán Fómhair or 09:00–17:00). Full marks are given for the correct information, so using clear figures eliminates spelling errors.

• Laethanta na seachtaine: Dé Luain (Monday), Dé Máirt (Tuesday), Dé Céadaoin (Wednesday), Déardaoin (Thursday), Dé hAoine (Friday), Dé Sathairn (Saturday), Dé Domhnaigh (Sunday).
• Míonna na bliana: Eanáir (Jan), Feabhra (Feb), Márta (Mar), Aibreán (Apr), Bealtaine (May), Meitheamh (Jun), Iúil (Jul), Lúnasa (Aug), Meán Fómhair (Sept), Deireadh Fómhair (Oct), Samhain (Nov), Nollaig (Dec). The month usually follows de or d': an deichiú lá de Lúnasa (10 August), an chéad lá d'Iúil (1 July).

Uimhreacha Oird do Dhátaí (Ordinal Date Patterns)

• 1st–10th: an chéad lá (1st), an dara lá (2nd), an tríú lá (3rd), an ceathrú lá (4th), an cúigiú lá (5th), an séú lá (6th), an seachtú lá (7th), an t-ochtú lá (8th), an naoú lá (9th), an deichiú lá (10th).
• 11th–19th (add 'déag'): an t-aonú lá déag (11th), an dóú lá déag (12th), an tríú lá déag (13th), an ceathrú lá déag (14th), an séú lá déag (16th), an t-ochtú lá déag (18th).
• 20th–31st: an fichiú lá (20th), an t-aonú lá is fiche (21st), an cúigiú lá is fiche (25th), an tríochadú lá (30th), an t-aonú lá is tríocha (31st). Pay close attention to the final word: is fiche denotes the 20s, whereas is tríocha denotes the 31st.

Ag Comhaireamh Daoine agus Uimhreacha Móra (Counting People and Quantities)

When an announcement states how many people are needed or attended, it uses personal numbers:

• Daoine: duine amháin (1), beirt (2), triúr (3), ceathrar (4), cúigear (5), seisear (6), seachtar (7), ochtar (8), naonúr (9), deichniúr (10), aon duine dhéag (11), dháréag (12), fiche duine (20).
• Uimhreacha móra: céad (100), míle (1,000), deich míle (10,000), leathmhilliún (500,000).
• Qualifiers: ar a laghad (at least), ar a mhéad (at most), breis agus / os cionn (more than / over), faoi bhun (under), thart ar / timpeall (about).

The 'Déag' Trap

Multiples of ten and teen numbers sound deceptively similar over exam hall speakers:

Note: The currency unit euro remains invariable in the plural (deich euro, daichead euro).

Ag Déanamh Teagmhála agus Logainmneacha

Announcements routinely conclude with contact instructions:

• Líon isteach an fhoirm iarratais / iontrála: Fill in the application / entry form.
• Cuir glaoch ar / Glaoigh ar: Phone.
• Seol ríomhphost / litir chuig: Send an email / letter to.
• Logáil isteach ar an suíomh gréasáin / Cláraigh ar líne: Log in to the website / Register online.
• Ainm úsáideora agus pasfhocal: Username and password.
• Tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ó / ar: Further info available from / on.
• Ponc (.) and ag (@): eolas ag craobh ponc ie = eolas@craobh.ie.

Logainmneacha Coitianta (Counties and Gaeltacht Areas)

Venues often reference specific Irish place names:

• Counties: Gaillimh (Galway), Dún na nGall / Tír Chonaill (Donegal), Maigh Eo (Mayo), Ciarraí (Kerry), Corcaigh (Cork), Port Láirge (Waterford), An Mhí (Meath), Baile Átha Cliath (Dublin), Béal Feirste (Belfast).
• Districts: Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, An Cheathrú Rua, Carna, Ceantar na nOileán, Corca Dhuibhne, Dún Chaoin, Baile Bhuirne, Rinn Ó gCuanach, Ráth Chairn.

Recurrent Announcement Themes

Leaving Certificate announcements draw on predictable thematic areas. Recognizing these standard combinations speeds up comprehension.

1. Fostaíocht agus Earcú (Employment and Jobs)

• Post páirtaimseartha / lánaimseartha: Part-time / full-time post.
• Cúntóir / Freastalaí / Oibrí barista: Assistant / server / barista.
• Cáilíochtaí riachtanacha: Mandatory qualifications (e.g. Gaeilge líofa, teastas i sláinteachas bia).
• Ina bhuntáiste / ina buntáiste: An advantage (desirable, but not compulsory).
• Tuarastal san uair: Hourly rate of pay.
• Spriocdháta d'iarratais: Application deadline.

2. Coláistí Samhraidh agus Cúrsaí Gaeltachta (Summer Courses)

• Coláiste samhraidh / cúrsa Gaeltachta: Gaeltacht summer college / course.
• Cinnire / Múinteoir cónaitheach: Student leader / resident teacher.
• Bean an tí / teach lóistín: Host mother / guest accommodation.
• Imeachtaí: Céilí, seisiún comhrá, ceardlann drámaíochta, tráth na gceist, comórtas díospóireachta, ranganna ceoil.
• Scoláireacht: Scholarship; rialacha an choláiste: college rules.

3. Na Meáin: Raidió agus Teilifís (Media Recruitment and Launches)

• Clár nua / sraith nua: New programme / new series.
• Láithreoir, iriseoir, aisteoir, iomaitheoir: Presenter, journalist, actor, competitor.
• Á lorg / á iarraidh: Being sought / recruited.
• Craolfar an clár: The programme will be broadcast.
• Éisteoirí / lucht féachana: Listeners / television audience.
• Triail éisteachta (éisteacht phoiblí): Audition.

4. Imeachtaí Pobail, Spóirt agus Fógraí Bóthair (Public and Road Notices)

• Mar gheall ar / De bharr: Due to / as a result of.
• Bóthar dúnta don trácht: Road closed to traffic.
• Bealach eile: Alternative detour route.
• Ar mhaithe le sábháilteacht: In the interest of safety.
• Ní cheadaítear páirceáil: Parking is not permitted.
• Iontráil saor in aisce / táille iontrála: Free entry / entry fee.

Dialect Navigation and Regional Cues

The recording includes speakers from the three main dialect regions. You are never asked to identify or write in a dialect; your task is simply to understand the spoken word and record the answer in standard Irish.

Two-Listen Strategy and Precision Marking

Each announcement plays twice. Following a disciplined routine guarantees that you capture all marks:

1. Pre-reading (Réamhléamh): Use the opening quiet window to scan the questions. Underline key targets (Cé, Cá háit, Cén pá, Dhá cháilíocht riachtanacha).
2. First Listen (An Chéad Éisteacht): Listen to grasp the overall setting and immediately note dates, names, figures, and nouns in pencil beside the prompts.
3. Pause Between Plays: Read over your jotted notes against the specific question requirements. Identify remaining gaps, such as an incomplete finishing hour or missing qualification.
4. Second Listen (An Dara hÉisteacht): Verify specific numbers, catch remaining items, and verify conditional terms like in ionad (instead of) or ina bhuntáiste (an advantage).
5. Writing Final Answers: Write concise factual points directly in Irish on the answer lines provided.

Precision Answering: Weak vs Full-Mark Responses

Key terms

Cluastuiscint

The 20-minute aural comprehension test opening Paper 1, worth 60 marks (10% of total Leaving Certificate marks).

Fógra

A spoken public notice or radio announcement broadcasting specific factual information to listeners.

Spriocdháta / Dáta deiridh

The deadline or closing date for submitting job applications, course registrations, or competition entries.

Saor in aisce

Free of charge; involves no ticket charge, entry fee, or admission cost.

Cáilíocht riachtanach

A mandatory, essential qualification or requirement that an applicant must possess to be considered.

Ina bhuntáiste / Ina buntáiste

Desirable or advantageous, but not mandatory. The pronoun agrees with the noun's gender (e.g. 'beidh taithí ina buntáiste', 'beidh sé ina bhuntáiste').

Clárú roimh ré

Advance registration or booking required before attending a workshop, course, or event.

Dírithe ar

Aimed at; defines the specific target audience or eligible demographic for an initiative.

In ionad

Instead of; signals a schedule change, substitute venue, or amended time.

Curtha ar athló

Postponed; deferred or rescheduled to a later date or time.

Uimhreacha pearsanta

Special numerical forms used strictly for counting people in Irish (e.g. beirt, triúr, seachtar, deichniúr).

Ponc agus ag

Spoken conventions for digital addresses: 'ponc' means dot (.) and 'ag' means at (@) in emails and web URLs.