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Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: Irish identity, North & South

How often Irish identity, North & South comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

OL Asked on 2 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Irish identity, North & South, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Irish identity, North & South.

(a)Under the Good Friday Agreement, how may people in Northern Ireland identify?
  1. Only as British
  2. As Irish, British or both
  3. Only as Northern Irish
(b)Which is an example of the education system shaping Irish identity?
  1. Using metric units in maths
  2. Setting exam fees by county
  3. Teaching Irish as a core subject
(c)In Northern Ireland, what is an integrated school?
  1. A school educating Catholic and Protestant pupils together
  2. A school only for pupils with special educational needs
  3. A school teaching all subjects through the Irish language
Show the answers

(a) As Irish, British or both

(b) Teaching Irish as a core subject

(c) A school educating Catholic and Protestant pupils together

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Irish identity, North & South.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q1j
2023Q1n
2022Q2
2021Not asked
2019Q6b
2018Q1d

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

More Irish identity, North & South questions

Irish identity, North & South, 2 marks

Alongside Irish, which language and culture tradition does the Good Friday Agreement recognise in Northern Ireland?

  1. Scottish Gaelic
  2. Welsh
  3. Ulster-Scots
Show the answer

Ulster-Scots

The Agreement recognises linguistic diversity in NI, including Irish, Ulster-Scots and the languages of ethnic communities.

Irish identity, North & South, 2 marks

Historically, which institution ran most schools in the South and did much to shape Irish identity?

  1. The British Army
  2. The Catholic Church
  3. The GAA
Show the answer

The Catholic Church

Most schools were under Catholic patronage for generations, shaping values and identity. Growing diversity has led to debate about patronage today.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 2 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1m
2024Q1m
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Not asked

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

More Irish identity, North & South questions

Irish identity, North & South, 2 marks

Under the Good Friday Agreement, people born in Northern Ireland can identify as what?

  1. British only, not Irish
  2. Irish only, not British
  3. Irish, British or both
Show the answer

Irish, British or both

The 1998 Agreement recognised the birthright of people in Northern Ireland to identify as Irish or British or both, and to hold either or both citizenships.

Irish identity, North & South, 2 marks

Which is an example of how Irish identity is formed?

  1. Watching an American film on a streaming site
  2. Playing Gaelic games in the local GAA club
  3. Buying a phone that was made abroad
Show the answer

Playing Gaelic games in the local GAA club

Identity is shaped by sport, language, religion, music, schools, family and the media. North and South, these can bring people together or mark differences.

Irish identity, North & South, 2 marks

In Northern Ireland, what are integrated schools?

  1. Schools educating Catholic and Protestant pupils together
  2. Schools that teach every subject through the Irish language
  3. Schools only for pupils with special educational needs
Show the answer

Schools educating Catholic and Protestant pupils together

Most children in Northern Ireland attend schools mainly of one tradition. Integrated schools aim to build shared understanding and identity across communities.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society