Prose - An tIriseoir

Leagan Amach an Scrúdaithe agus Rialacha Roghnaithe 2027

Question 2 on Paper 2 carries 30 marks and tests your literary appreciation (léirmheas litríochta) of prose. Under the adjusted arrangements for 2027, the paper provides four questions:

• 2A (a) and 2A (b) on two different prescribed works (saothair ainmnithe).
• 2B (a) and 2B (b) on two optional works (saothair roghnacha).

You must answer one question only. If your class studied the prescribed course, you choose between 2A (a) and 2A (b). Circular 0070/2024 strictly forbids using a prescribed text as an optional work. Because only two of the five prescribed prose texts appear on the paper in any given year, studying An tIriseoir alone is risky; you should prepare at least three prescribed prose works.

How Your Answer Is Marked

• Language and content: Marks reward relevant points supported by textual evidence alongside accurate, fluent Irish. Writing incorrect Irish or dropping in English words damages your language grade.
• Scope: Confine your answer strictly to pages 1–18 of the 2016 Cois Life edition. Do not bring in plot developments from beyond page 18.
• Format and timing: Aim for three to four paragraphs (roughly 25 to 30 lines) written in about 25 minutes.

Note on official sources: Check personal names, relationships, and textual details directly against your copy of pages 1–18 before the examination.

Cineálacha Ceisteanna agus Abairtí Tosaigh (Question Types and Openers)

The State Examinations Commission varies the focus of Question 2 each year. Every successful answer uses the three-step structure: pointe (make the point), fianaise (evidence or reference to pages 1–18), and míniú (explain what it shows).

Tagairtí don Sliocht (Anchoring Your Points)

Anchor your analysis with short references or brief quotations using these framing phrases:

• Is léir é seo ón líne: "…" (This is clear from the line: "…")
• Mar a deir an scéalaí féin: "…" (As the narrator says: "…")
• Feictear é seo go soiléir nuair a … (This is seen clearly when …)
• Mar shampla, sa chuid sin den sliocht ina … (For example, in that part of the extract where …)

Achoimre ar an Sliocht (Plot Summary: Pages 1–18)

The prescribed opening extract establishes Bríd's professional ambition alongside her personal vulnerability.

Bríd's drive is fuelled by an urge to rebuild her life and gain independence. However, when assigned an investigation touching her own community, her detachment breaks down, creating a sharp crisis of conscience (géarchéim choinsiasa).

Na Carachtair agus a dTréithe (Characters and Traits)

In Higher Level Irish, distinguish character traits (tréithe) from temporary feelings (mothúcháin). A trait is an enduring personal disposition.

Bríd Ní Dhroma

• Uaillmhianach (Ambitious): She recognises that breaking a major scoop (scéal mór eisiach) will secure her standing in the competitive Dublin newsroom. She does not back away from difficult assignments.
• Díograiseach (Hard-working): She commits herself to long hours and detailed research, striving to prove her competence under editorial scrutiny.
• Leochaileach (Vulnerable): Beneath her professional focus, she carries personal sadness following marital separation. Her maternal instinct leaves her exposed when local reporting threatens her home ties.
• Idir dhá chomhairle (Torn): She suffers internal conflict (coimhlint inmheánach) when balancing her professional duty (dualgas gairmiúil) against her maternal responsibility (freagracht mháthartha).

Mac Bhríde (Bríd's Son)

• Íogair (Sensitive): He reacts to changes in his life following his mother's move, illustrating the emotional strain of domestic disruption.
• Tuisceanach (Understanding): He senses his mother's workplace stress, though he struggles with her absence.

An tEagarthóir (The Editor)

• Personifies the commercial demand of modern media, maintaining pressure for circulation-boosting exclusives regardless of private sentiment.

Príomhthéamaí, Mothúcháin agus Atmaisféar (Themes, Feelings, and Setting)

Príomhthéamaí (Central Themes)

• Brú na gairme (Workplace pressure): The relentless atmosphere of tight deadlines, demanding superiors, and the pursuit of an exclusive scoop.
• Eitic na hiriseoireachta (Journalistic ethics): The boundary between public interest reporting and the destruction of personal privacy.
• Gairm in aghaidh muintire (Career versus family): The direct clash between professional achievement and loyalty to family and local community.

Mothúcháin agus Atmaisféar (Feelings and Atmosphere)

• Teannas (Tension): Pervades the text, generated by editorial demands and Bríd's mounting panic as the investigation nears her family.
• Imní (Anxiety): Bríd's sleepless nights and dread as she weighs up the cost of publishing sensitive information.
• Comhbhá (Sympathy): Evoked in the reader because Bríd is an honest mother caught in an impossible professional trap.

Cúlra an Údair (Stair Litríocht na Gaeilge)

If an exam sub-question asks about the author and context, use this three-sentence outline:

1. Is í Michelle Nic Pháidín a scríobh an saothar seo, agus d'fhoilsigh Cois Life é sa bhliain 2016.
2. Cuireann suíomh an tseomra nuachta agus brú na spriocdhátaí go mór le réalachas an tsaothair.
3. Is sampla é de phrós comhaimseartha na Gaeilge san aonú haois is fiche, prós a dhéileálann le saol na cathrach agus le dúshláin ghairmiúla an lae inniu.

Nóta: Check any specific biographical detail against a published source before learning it for an exam answer.

Stór Focal: Na Meáin agus Frásaí don Freagra (Vocabulary and Key Phrases)

Stór Focal: Na Meáin agus an Iriseoireacht

• iriseoir (journalist) / tuairisceoir (reporter)
• eagarthóir (editor) / seomra nuachta (newsroom)
• spriocdháta (deadline) / spriocdháta a chomhlíonadh (to meet a deadline)
• scéal eisiach (exclusive story, scoop) / scéal a nochtadh (to reveal a story)
• fiosrúchán (investigation) / foinse eolais (source of information)
• eitic na hiriseoireachta (journalistic ethics) / brú oibre (work pressure)

Cúig Abairt Chumhachtacha (Five Fallback Sentences)

Memorise these adaptable sentences to ensure high marks for language quality:

1. Is sliocht an-suimiúil é seo a chuaigh go mór i bhfeidhm orm. (This is a very interesting extract that made a deep impression on me.)
2. Léiríonn an t-údar go cumasach an brú a bhí ar an bpríomhcharachtar. (The author capably portrays the pressure on the main character.)
3. Is léir ón sliocht go raibh sí idir dhá chomhairle faoina dualgas gairmiúil. (It is clear from the extract that she was torn concerning her professional duty.)
4. Baineann an t-údar úsáid éifeachtach as comhrá réadúil chun an teannas a mhéadú. (The author makes effective use of realistic dialogue to increase tension.)
5. Mar fhocal scoir, is sliocht é a thugann léargas géar ar shaol an lae inniu. (In conclusion, it is an extract that provides a sharp insight into modern life.)

Nascfhocail (Linking Words)

Ar an gcéad dul síos (firstly); Ar an dara dul síos (secondly); Ina theannta sin (furthermore); Dá bharr sin (as a result); I mo thuairim féin (in my own opinion); Mar fhocal scoir (in conclusion).

Key terms

Iriseoireacht fhiosrúcháin

Investigative journalism; reporting focused on exposing concealed wrongdoing or sensitive public issues.

Géarchéim choinsiasa

Crisis of conscience; an intense moral dilemma where duty conflicts with personal values.

Coimhlint inmheánach

Inner conflict; mental and emotional struggle experienced by a character caught between opposing demands.

Uaillmhianach

Ambitious; driven by a determination to succeed and progress in one's profession.

Leochaileach

Vulnerable; emotionally sensitive or liable to hurt due to past trauma or current stress.

Dualgas gairmiúil

Professional duty; the ethical and workplace responsibilities attached to a career.

Idir dhá chomhairle

Torn or indecisive; unable to choose between two conflicting paths or obligations.

Léirmheas litríochta

Literary appreciation or review; critical analysis of themes, characterisation, and style in a prescribed text.