Leaving Cert Diary 2025: We say slán to Irish and goodbye Biology!

As we say slán to Irish, it means that the mandatory subjects are out of the way. It was still a long slog those sitting Irish Paper 2 and Biology.
We are here with another instalment of the Leaving Cert Diary series, with thanks to our friends at the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU).
Rónán is a sixth year student and Irish language activist based in Wicklow, and he is back again today to chat Paper 2. But, first we hear from Galway student Michaela who sat Biology this evening.
Don't forget to take a break while you can, and if you want any tips for the remaining subjects, plus lots more besides visit RTÉ Learn.
Walking into the Biology exam today, I don't think I've ever been as nervous. Biology is one of those subjects where the paper can either be your best friend or your worst nightmare. As someone who's passionate about the subject and hoping to become a Biology teacher in the future, I was really hoping the paper would go my way. Thankfully, it did - for the most part.
From the moment I opened the paper, I let out a quiet sigh of relief. The short questions were a lovely start, covering topics like photosynthesis and food - two areas I'd spent a lot of time revising. They're some of my favourite topics, and seeing them right at the beginning gave me a huge confidence boost.
In Section B, I tackled the ecology question and the experiment on osmosis. I was genuinely delighted to see osmosis appear. It's always been one of the easier experiments for me to understand and explain, and it felt like a reward for the hours I'd put into preparing for all the practicals. Ecology can sometimes be a bit unpredictable, but I felt I managed it well this time.
That said, the paper wasn't without its tricky moments. Some questions, particularly in Section C, were worded in ways that made me pause and think carefully. But I stayed calm and reminded myself to trust the work I'd done. I was really pleased to be able to answer questions on three of my favourite topics: the skeletal system, the circulatory system, and homeostasis. These are the parts of Biology that really sparked my interest in the subject, and getting the chance to write about them in detail felt like things had come full circle.
Overall, I'm absolutely thrilled. After all the time, stress, and effort, it felt like everything came together when it counted. The exam challenged me, but I felt prepared. Today reaffirmed why I love Biology so much, and it made me even more excited about my future career. I walked out of the exam hall smiling, knowing that my hard work had truly paid off.
It's Rónán arís with his blog on Irish Paper 2...
There was a quiet focus this morning as students opened Paper 2 of the Irish exam, a paper that was both challenging and fair. The general reaction was relief, with just a few moments of confusion where wording would have pushed students' vocabulary to their limits.
The first léamhthuiscint paid tribute to Rory Gallagher, marking thirty years since the legendary guitarist's death. A fitting inclusion that offered a blend of culture and history in a way that felt fresh and thoughtful. The second reading comprehension took on sport in Ireland, highlighting key themes like recognition for athletes, the growing role of women in sport, and the continued need for government investment.
Prose followed the predictions closely. Hurlamaboc gave us another look at Lisín, ever polished and endlessly in control. Oisín i dTír na nÓg returned too, asking students to examine the hero caught between two worlds and one that many had prepared for. Poetry brought another wave of reassurance. Colscaradh and An Spailpín Fánach came with reliable questions, giving students a chance to settle into familiar territory.
Then came the filíocht breise, and with it was a twist. I had joked yesterday that if Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire appeared, I'd be ag caoineadh myself, hoping for Colmáin which hasn't appeared on the paper since 2019. At first glance, the Caoineadh question looked daunting. The language was weighty, which fits the poem itself. But with a steady approach and a good grasp of its emotional depth, it was very much achievable.
This was a fair and fitting conclusion to the Irish course. The texts were familiar, the themes engaging, and students were given a real chance to show what they'd learned. Is fada an bóthar nach mbíonn casadh ann and a few may have felt those bends in the road briefly lost in the phrasing of some questions - a bit like Oisín trying to find his way, but I hope that most found solid ground in the end.
Founded in 2008, the ISSU is the national representative body for school students in the Republic of Ireland. The ISSU is led by students, for students.

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Irish Independent

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Condon notes that Wilmot, who has appeared in The Guard, Intermission and Calvary, made her 'a better actress'. 'That's not even just being nice to David, that's the truth,' she says. 'David gave me so many tips to this day that I still call him up for advice on certain things that I'm having trouble navigating.' What's the best advice anyone has ever given her? 'I don't know if it's acting advice, but I was told, as a woman, to always have your own money,' she says. 'I do think that was really good advice, because you can be really independent when you have your own money. You can get out of any situation. If you have your own money, you can get a cab and get the hell out of there. I hate to give money that power, but I do think, as a woman, it's very important. To this day, I'm very adamant that I have my own money.' Is there a type of different acting role she might like to take up in the future? 'I don't know, but I did like being violent,' she says, referring to her role in In the Land of Saints and Sinners, which she filmed in Donegal and starred opposite Liam Neeson. 'That was really relaxing for me, bizarrely,' she says. 'I did go, 'Huh, that's interesting.' There was something about a character who didn't give a f**k that was really freeing. It made you kind of go, 'Jeez, why do I analyse everything in my life?' Like playing someone who doesn't care what anyone thinks of them, it was very empowering and fun. You'd think it would make you angry, but it was the opposite. I was sitting in Donegal, looking out at the baby lambs, thinking life was great.' After one of the most gratifying streaks in her professional life, a long overdue break is still very much on the cards this year. 'I've always wanted to be an actress my whole life and I still have that, I just love it, but there are other things in life,' Condon reflects. 'There's my horses — I want to be a better rider, and I want to learn so much about the ocean. I have my horses, and think that when my horses are older and they're gone, what other thing would I like to explore? 'Scuba diving and marine life and freediving, all that ocean stuff really appeals to me. And I think that might be the next phase of my life. Horses are such a commitment, and such a lifestyle, so when that's wrapped up for me, I think I'll have to pivot to some other kind of all-consuming thing. It seems like a big second, hard mountain to climb, but that I could do something good in that way. 'I love taking care of things, I love being a mammy,' she adds. 'I love minding animals and making them feel good. I love knowing that my money is being used for something greater than me.' Condon describes her farm, just outside Seattle and home to her horses, dogs and cat, with huge affection. Her father bred horses when she was growing up in Tipperary, and her cousin, Richard, is a jockey. 'I mean, I basically bought my horses a house,' she says. 'That brings me a lot of joy, because sometimes I do feel that I don't understand my drive as an actor. I don't know where it came from. I don't know why I have this obsession. So it eases me a little to know, 'Well, I'm going to do this on the farm with the money I make from this movie,' as opposed to, 'Me, me, me, I'm going to buy a Prada handbag and I'm going to be famous.' That does nothing for me.' 'F1 'will show in Irish cinemas from Friday, June 27

Irish Independent

3 days ago

• Irish Independent

Ireland's universities among most improved in the world as Trinity retains top place in country's rankings

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