# Leaving Cert Irish 2026

> The 2026 Leaving Cert Irish exam papers and official marking scheme for Higher and Ordinary (plus Foundation) level. Questions come from the official State Examinations Commission papers; every PDF link opens the original on examinations.ie.

Canonical: https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish/2026

## Higher Level

- [Paper 1](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC001ALP100IV.pdf)
- [Paper 2](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC001ALP200IV.pdf)
- [Marking Scheme](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/markingschemes/2026/LC001ALP000IV.pdf)
- [Sound File (audio)](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC001ZLP017IV.mp3)

### What's in the 2026 Higher Level paper?

| Paper | Question | Topics | Marks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Q1 | aiste, alt nuachtáin, ceapadóireacht | 100 |
| 1 | Q2 | scéal, ceapadóireacht, scríbhneoireacht chruthaitheach | 100 |
| 1 | Q3 | díospóireacht, óráid, ceapadóireacht | 100 |
| 2 | Q1 | léamhthuiscint, reading comprehension, grammar | 100 |
| 2 | Q2 | prós, prescribed prose, optional prose, cáca milis | 30 |
| 2 | Q3 | filíocht, prescribed poetry, optional poetry, an tearrach thiar | 30 |
| 2 | Q4 | litríocht bhreise, additional literature, drama, novel | 40 |

## Ordinary Level

- [Paper 1](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC001GLP100IV.pdf)
- [Paper 2](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC001GLP200IV.pdf)
- [Marking Scheme](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/markingschemes/2026/LC001GLP000IV.pdf)
- [Sound File (audio)](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC001ZLP017IV.mp3)

### What's in the 2026 Ordinary Level paper?

| Paper | Question | Topics | Marks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Q1 | giota leanúnach, blag, ceapadóireacht | 50 |
| 1 | Q2 | scéal, ceapadóireacht, scríbhneoireacht chruthaitheach | 50 |
| 1 | Q3 | litir, ríomhphost, ceapadóireacht | 50 |
| 1 | Q4 | comhrá, ceapadóireacht, díospóireacht | 50 |
| 2 | Q1 | léamhthuiscint, reading comprehension | 100 |
| 2 | Q2 | prós, prose literature, prescribed prose, optional prose | 50 |
| 2 | Q3 | filíocht, poetry, prescribed poetry, optional poetry | 50 |

## Foundation Level

- [Paper 1](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC001BLP100IV.pdf)
- [Marking Scheme](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/markingschemes/2026/LC001BLP000IV.pdf)
- [Sound File (audio)](https://www.examinations.ie/archive/exampapers/2026/LC001BLP017IV.mp3)

## Revise Irish by topic

- [Aural / Listening (Cluastuiscint)](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish/topic/aural-listening)
- [Reading Comprehension (Léamhthuiscint)](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish/topic/reading-comprehension)
- [Written Composition (Ceapadóireacht)](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish/topic/written-composition)
- [Prose (Prós)](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish/topic/prose)
- [Poetry (Filíocht)](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish/topic/poetry)
- [Additional / Prescribed Literature (Litríocht Bhreise)](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish/topic/additional-prescribed-literature)
- [Grammar (Gramadach)](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish/topic/grammar)

## Related

- [Irish 2025](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish/2025)
- [All Irish years](https://examai.ie/past-papers/leaving-cert/irish)