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Subjects · Leaving Cert Music

Leaving Cert Music: Groups, fusion & modern music

How often Groups, fusion & modern music comes up on the Music papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 6 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Groups, fusion & modern music, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Groups, fusion & modern music.

(a)Which group, formed in 1962 by Paddy Moloney, became Ireland's best-known traditional ambassadors?
  1. Horslips
  2. The Chieftains
  3. Moving Hearts
(b)Which is a non-traditional feature in an arrangement of an Irish tune?
  1. The tune played in AABB form
  2. A roll on the wooden flute
  3. A syncopated bass guitar backing
(c)Which Greek instrument did Planxty's Andy Irvine and Dónal Lunny help popularise in Irish music?
  1. The bouzouki
  2. The sitar
  3. The balalaika
Show the answers

(a) The Chieftains

(b) A syncopated bass guitar backing

(c) The bouzouki

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Groups, fusion & modern music.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q5A, Q5Bi
2024Q5A, Q5Bii
2023Q5Biv
2022Q5A
2021Q5A, Q5Bi
2019Q5A
2018Q5Biii
2017Q5Bii
2016Q5A, Q5Biii

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

More Groups, fusion & modern music questions

Groups, fusion & modern music, 2 marks

Frankie Gavin, fiddler and flute player, was a founder of which group?

  1. The Pogues
  2. Horslips
  3. De Dannan
Show the answer

De Dannan

De Dannan, from Co. Galway (founded 1975), was known for driving fiddle and accordion playing and for singers such as Dolores Keane and Mary Black.

Groups, fusion & modern music, 2 marks

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is the fiddler and singer of which Donegal group?

  1. Moving Hearts
  2. Altan
  3. Planxty
Show the answer

Altan

Altan, formed in the 1980s, is known for Donegal fiddle playing and songs in Irish, drawing on the tradition of Gweedore.

Groups, fusion & modern music, 3 marks

Which musician was a founder member of Planxty, the Bothy Band and Moving Hearts?

  1. Dónal Lunny
  2. Paddy Moloney
  3. Seán Ó Riada
Show the answer

Dónal Lunny

Lunny, on bouzouki and guitar, shaped the sound of all three groups and helped make the bouzouki a standard accompanying instrument.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 6 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q5
2024Q5
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021Q5
2019Q5
2018Not asked
2017Q5
2016Q5

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

More Groups, fusion & modern music questions

Groups, fusion & modern music, 2 marks

Which band mixed Irish traditional music with rock in the 1970s?

  1. Ceoltóirí Chualann
  2. Kilfenora Céilí Band
  3. Horslips
Show the answer

Horslips

Horslips set traditional tunes and Irish legends to electric guitars and drum kit, creating Celtic rock.

Groups, fusion & modern music, 2 marks

Which of these is a non-traditional feature in a fusion piece?

  1. Sean-nós singing
  2. Drum kit
  3. Uilleann pipes
Show the answer

Drum kit

Drum kit, electric guitars and synthesisers come from rock and pop. Uilleann pipes and sean-nós singing are traditional.

Groups, fusion & modern music, 2 marks

Which family group from Gweedore, Co. Donegal, is known for atmospheric Irish-language songs?

  1. Clannad
  2. Horslips
  3. Moving Hearts
Show the answer

Clannad

Clannad blended Irish-language songs with folk, jazz and ambient sounds. Their close harmonies and synthesisers reached a world audience.

Other Music topics

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