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Subjects · Leaving Cert History

Leaving Cert History: Ireland 1949–89

How often Ireland 1949–89 comes up on the History 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

Ireland 1949–89, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Ireland 1949–89.

(a)Who succeeded Seán Lemass as Taoiseach in 1966?
  1. George Colley
  2. Jack Lynch
  3. Charles Haughey
(b)In which year did Ireland join the United Nations?
  1. 1961
  2. 1949
  3. 1955
(c)Irish troops' first major UN peacekeeping mission, from 1960, was in…
  1. The Congo
  2. Lebanon
  3. Cyprus
Show the answers

(a) Jack Lynch

(b) 1955

(c) The Congo

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Ireland 1949–89.

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
2026Ireland Topic 6
2025Ireland Topic 6
2024Ireland Topic 6
2023Ireland Topic 6
2022Ireland Topic 6
2021Ireland Topic 6
2019Ireland Topic 6 (DBQ)
2018Ireland Topic 6 (DBQ)
2017Ireland Topic 6
2016Ireland Topic 6

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

More Ireland 1949–89 questions

Ireland 1949–89, 2 marks

In which year did Charles Haughey first become Taoiseach?

  1. 1977
  2. 1982
  3. 1979
Show the answer

1979

Haughey succeeded Jack Lynch in December 1979, less than ten years after the Arms Trial. He led governments in 1979–81, 1982 and 1987–92.

Ireland 1949–89, 2 marks

Which 1987 Supreme Court case forced a referendum on the Single European Act?

  1. Norris v Attorney General
  2. Crotty v An Taoiseach
  3. McGee v Attorney General
Show the answer

Crotty v An Taoiseach

Raymond Crotty argued the Act affected Ireland's sovereignty. The Supreme Court agreed, so major European treaty changes since have needed a referendum.

Ireland 1949–89, 2 marks

David Norris's 1988 win at the European Court of Human Rights concerned laws on…

  1. Homosexuality
  2. Divorce
  3. Contraception
Show the answer

Homosexuality

Norris argued that Irish laws banning homosexual acts breached his right to privacy. The court agreed, and Ireland decriminalised homosexuality in 1993.

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
2026Ireland Topic 6
2025Ireland Topic 6
2024Ireland Topic 6
2023Ireland Topic 6
2022Ireland Topic 6
2021Ireland Topic 6
2019Ireland Topic 6 (DBQ)
2018Ireland Topic 6 (DBQ)
2017Ireland Topic 6
2016Ireland Topic 6

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

More Ireland 1949–89 questions

Ireland 1949–89, 3 marks

Which scheme did Noël Browne propose in 1951 for mothers and young children?

  1. The Free Hospitals Scheme
  2. The Family Allowance Scheme
  3. The Mother and Child Scheme
Show the answer

The Mother and Child Scheme

It offered free health care for mothers and for children under 16. The Catholic bishops and many doctors objected, and Browne resigned.

Ireland 1949–89, 2 marks

Which department was Noël Browne minister for in 1951?

  1. Finance
  2. Health
  3. Education
Show the answer

Health

As Minister for Health he had already led a successful campaign against tuberculosis before the Mother and Child controversy.

Ireland 1949–89, 3 marks

Who wrote the 1958 report Economic Development?

  1. T.K. Whitaker
  2. Seán Lemass
  3. James Dillon
Show the answer

T.K. Whitaker

Whitaker was Secretary of the Department of Finance. His report argued for free trade and foreign investment instead of protectionism.

Other History topics

All of Leaving Cert History