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Subjects · Leaving Cert Geography

Leaving Cert Geography: The Irish region (West of Ireland)

How often The Irish region (West of Ireland) comes up on the Geography papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

OL Asked on 10 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Geography course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

The Irish region (West of Ireland), Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on The Irish region (West of Ireland).

(a)Population problem caused by long-term emigration from the rural West?
  1. Overcrowding
  2. An ageing population
  3. A very youthful population
(b)Wet, acidic soil type that limits farming over much of the West?
  1. Alluvial (river) soil
  2. Brown earth (forest soil)
  3. Peat (blanket bog) soil
(c)Best-known fjord in Ireland, on the Galway and Mayo border?
  1. Killary Harbour
  2. Galway Bay
  3. Clew Bay
Show the answers

(a) An ageing population

(b) Peat (blanket bog) soil

(c) Killary Harbour

Your turn: Higher Level questions on The Irish region (West of Ireland).

Higher Level

Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q4B
2025Q4A, Q5B
2024Q4C, Q5C
2023SQ11, Q5B, Q6C
2022Q4A, Q6B
2021Q4B
2019Q4B
2018Q4A, Q5C, Q6A
2017Q4C
2016Q4C

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More The Irish region (West of Ireland) questions

The Irish region (West of Ireland), 2 marks

Main type of farming in the West of Ireland?

  1. Tillage (cereal growing)
  2. Market gardening (horticulture)
  3. Sheep and cattle rearing
Show the answer

Sheep and cattle rearing

Thin peaty soils, steep land and high rainfall rule out crops, so farmers graze sheep on hill commonage and rear store cattle for sale elsewhere.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 10 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q6B
2025Q4B
2024Q4A, Q6B
2023Q4B
2022Q4B, Q6C
2021Q4B
2019Q6B
2018SQ7, Q4B, Q6A
2017Q4B
2016Q4B, Q5B

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More The Irish region (West of Ireland) questions

The Irish region (West of Ireland), 2 marks

Main type of farming on the poor wet soils of the West of Ireland?

  1. Wheat and barley growing
  2. Market gardening (vegetables)
  3. Sheep and cattle rearing
Show the answer

Sheep and cattle rearing

Thin acid soils, heavy rain and a short growing season suit grass rather than tillage, so most farms rear sheep and store cattle.

The Irish region (West of Ireland), 2 marks

Type of bog that covers large areas of the West of Ireland?

  1. Fen
  2. Blanket bog
  3. Raised bog
Show the answer

Blanket bog

Heavy rainfall and poor drainage over wide upland areas let peat spread like a blanket, while raised bogs are typical of the midlands.

The Irish region (West of Ireland), 2 marks

Traditional industry based on the Atlantic along the coast of the West?

  1. Fishing
  2. Coal mining
  3. Car manufacturing
Show the answer

Fishing

Ports such as Rossaveal in County Galway support fishing and fish processing, though quotas and rising costs have reduced the fleet.

Other Geography topics

All of Leaving Cert Geography