2020 - Sample Answer

13/04/2023, 09:39 H1 Sample Answer | A Thig Ná Tit Orm - 2020 - Studyclix
Sample Answer
H1 Sample Answer | A Thig Ná Tit Orm -
2020
Reviewed by Conor Fitzgibbon
Question
2020 - Paper 2 - Question 4 - Part B
Translation: in the autobiography A Thig ná Tit Orm, Maidhc Dainín gives us an

interesting account of school and pastimes when he was growing up in the Gaeltacht.
Discuss this statement. (40 marks)
https://www.studyclix.ie/leaving-certificate/irish/higher/state-exams/2020/paper-two/sample-answers/h1-sample-answer-a-thig-na-tit-orm-2020/ 1/9
Examiner comment
How to approach this question

To score high marks, make sure to give your own personal opinion and supporting
quotes from the text to back it up. Make sure to stick to what you are being asked
and use references from the text to back up your points
There are two elements to the question and students must respond to both
aspects. If you leave one element out, your eolas mark will be reduced from 35
marks to 25 marks.
In this question you need to discuss two parts of the story:
Maidhc Dainín’s experience of school while growing up in the
Gaeltacht;
Maidhc Dainín’s hobbies while growing up in the Gaeltacht.
There are many examples from the text of the author’s hobbies; you do not need to
describe them all but you should elaborate on your chosen examples.
Keywords
Scolaíocht = school
Caitheamh aimsire = hobbies
Examiner comment
Top tips
This question is worth 40 marks which is just over 11% of the total marks available
for the written papers. While you may be under pressure for time at the end of
paper 2, it is important to plan your answer out before you begin.
Read the question again and make sure you have:
understood all the key terms;
examples to discuss for each part of the question;
quotes/references to support your argument;
put one point in each paragraph.
Give yourself 5 minutes when finished to re-read your answer and fix any errors.
Student answer
Aontaím go huile is go hiomlán leis an ráiteas atá thuasluaite (I completely agree with
the above statement). Is cinnte go dtugann Maidhc Dainín ó Sé, údar na
dírbheathaisnéise seo Excellent use of the tuiseal ginideach (author of this
autobiography), cuntas spéisiúil dúinn ar chúrsaí scolaíochta agus ar chúrsaí caitheamh
aimsire agus é ag fás aníos sa Ghaeltacht. San aiste seo, pléifidh mé na nithe
suntasacha (I will discuss the notable bits) óna dhírbheathaisnéis a bhaineann leis an
scoil agus caitheamh aimsire.
Ag tús an scéil Excellent use of the tuiseal ginideach (at the start of the story),
foghlaimímid (we learn) faoin gcéad lá ar scoil a bhí ag Maidhc. Insítear dom (I am told)
nár thaitin scoil go mór le Maidhc mar pháiste (Maidhc didn’t really like school as a
child). Bhí drogall air (he was reluctant) a bheith ar scoil gan a mháthair (without his
mother). Chuir a mháthair éadaí glana (clean clothes) air agus ní raibh a fhios ag Maidhc
Dainín cá raibh sé ag dul. Níor dhuine acadúil é Maidhc Dainín (he was not an
academically inclined person) dar leis féin (according to himself) ach spreag a mháthair
é go minic (his mother often encouraged him) le léamh agus le bheith ag obair go dian.
Ní raibh mórán suime (not much interest) aige sna ceachtanna (in the lessons), ach in
ainneoin sin (despite that), bhuail sé le daoine nua, rud a thaitin leis (which he liked).
Chomh maith leis sin, bhí an deis ag Maidhc peil a imirt (Maidhc got to play football) ar
scoil agus bhain sé taitneamh as, cé nach raibh trealamh ceart ag an scoil don spórt
(even though the school didn’t have the right equipment). Mar shampla, d’úsáid siad
clocha mar chuaillí (rocks as goalposts).
Tá ról lárnach freisin ag an lá cigireachta (inspection day) maidir lena scolaíocht. An lá
sin ach go háirithe (on that day in particular), bhí ar Mhaidhc a bheith ciúin, béasach
agus néata (Maidhc had to be quiet, polite and tidy). Cé nár dhuine acadúil é Maidhc
(even though he wasn’t an academic person), d’fhreagair sé ceist an chigire i gceart (he
correctly answered the inspector’s question) maidir le cé mhéad lá i mí Feabhra (on how
many days in the month of February).
Examiner comment
Description of the inspector’s visit

This is an excellent way of demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of the
autobiography. This student is giving clear examples of Maidhc’s school days and
they are easy to follow.
The layout of the answer is impressive; this student makes one main point in each
paragraph.
Níor éirigh go maith leis na daltaí i gcónaí áfach (the students didn’t always do well,
however), agus uaireanta bhí siad i dtrioblóid. Mar shampla, bhí Maidhc agus Tomás san
fhaopach (in deep trouble) nuair a bhí siad ag troid agus bhí an dream scoile ar fad (the
entire school group) i dtrioblóid nuair a chaith dalta éigin scraithín i dtreo na dtincéirí
(when some student threw a piece of turf at the travellers). Feicim mar léitheoir ansin
(as a reader I then see) go raibh nasc láidir (a strong link) idir an scolaíocht agus an
pionós corpartha (corporal punishment). Sna dá chás sin (in those two instances), thug
an múinteoir ‘trí stiall den bhfuinseog’ agus thug sí ‘ceithre bhuille do gach éinne a bhí
sa líne’.
Examiner comment
Description of Maidhc’s school days

The language used is fantastic and this student adds their own opinion and
commentary to the events. Overall, this student’s use of direct quotes
demonstrates to the examiner that they have an in-depth understanding of the text
and the question.
I ndiaidh na bunscoile (after primary school), d’fhreastail Maidhc ar cheardscoil an

Daingin (he attended the technical school in Dingle). Sa scoil sin, b’iad an dá bhliain ab
fhearr a bhí ag Maidhc riamh (they were the two best years Maidhc ever had). Bhí obair
níos praiticiúla (more practical work) i gceist sa scoil seo, a bhí níos oiriúnaí dó (which
was more suitable for him). Bhí sé fós in ann peil a imirt (he was still able to play
football) agus bhuaigh siad craobh an chontae don chéad uair riamh (they won the
county final for the first time) agus éacht iontach a bhí ann (an excellent achievement).
Is cinnte go bhfuil dea-chuimhní (good memories) ag Maidhc ón gceardscoil agus go
raibh taithí dhearfach (a positive experience) aige ar scoil ar an iomlán (on the whole).
Chomh maith le cúrsaí scolaíochta, faighim léargas suimiúil (I get an interesting insight)
den chaitheamh aimsire a bhí ag Maidhc mar pháiste, le peil, ceol agus iascaireacht san
áireamh. Excellent transition to next part of question (including football, music and fishing)
Mar atá luaite agam cheana (as I’ve mentioned already), d’imir Maidhc peil ar scoil leis
na buachaillí eile ar an mbóthar. Cluiche garbh (a rough game) a bhí ann mar ní raibh
rialacha i bhfeidhm (no rules in place) agus ní raibh na himreoirí sna háiteanna cearta
(the players weren’t in the correct positions). Ach fós, bhain Maidhc an-taitneamh as na
cluichí sin ar scoil. Nuair a d’fhreastail sé ar an gceardscoil, d’imir sé peil go hiomaíoch
(competitively), mar atá thuasluaite (as mentioned above). Is léir go raibh an pheil rí-
thábhachtach (extremely important) do Mhaidhc mar chaitheamh aimsire.
Maidir leis an iascaireacht mar chaitheamh aimsire, ní raibh go leor airgid Excellent use
of the tuiseal ginideach ag teaghlach Mhaidhc agus bhí ganntanas bia (food shortage) ann
uaireanta. Mar sin (therefore), chuaigh Maidhc ag iascaireacht lena athair go minic
(often), cé go raibh sé mídhleathach (even though it was illegal). Míníonn an t-údar (the
author explains) an scil speisialta a bhí ann chun píce iascaireachta (fishing hook) a
úsáid agus is léir go raibh an-chuid suime (a lot of interest) ag Maidhc san iascaireacht.
Cuireann sé go mór leis an gcaibidil seo (he really adds to this chapter) nuair a insíonn
sé scéal greannmhar dúinn faoin uair (about the time) a thit athair Mhaidhc isteach san
abhainn. Is léir go bhfuil dea-chuimhní (good memories) ag Maidhc ón gcaitheamh
aimsire seo.
Tá ról lárnach (central role) ag an gceol mar chaitheamh aimsire sa dírbheathaisnéis
freisin. Sheinn Maidhc an bosca ceoil (accordion). Sheol Maidhc agus a dheartháir Páidí
litir chuig Cox of Kilcock, siopa ceoil, ag iarraidh leabhar uirlisí (instrument catalogue) a
fháil uathu. Roghnaigh siad uirlis uaidh (they chose an instrument from it). Tar éis
tamaill, tháinig beart (parcel) go dtí oifig an phoist i mBaile na nGall. Bhí gach duine sa
teach bailithe timpeall (gathered around). Sheinn athair Mhaidhc port (a tune) ar an
mbosca nua agus ní raibh fhios ag éinne sa teaghlach go raibh féith an cheoil aige (that
he had a talent for music). Chaith Maidhc a am saor á sheinnt (Maidhc spent his spare
time playing). Is léir gur thug an ceol a theaghlach le chéile i mbealach deas (it’s clear
that music brought his family together in a nice way).
Examiner comment
Description of Maidhc’s love of music

Again, this student shows their knowledge of the autobiography and critical
additional knowledge of Gaeltacht life. This student gives clear examples of
Gaeltacht life and how Maidhc’s hobbies were common in the area. The language
used is fantastic and this student adds their own opinion and commentary to the
events.
Mar fhocal scoir (to conclude), molaim an t-údar (I commend the author) as an gcuntas
suimiúil dá óige (interesting account of his youth). Mar léitheoir, fuair mé léargas
iontach pearsanta (as a reader I got an excellent personal insight) den taithí scolaíochta
(of the schooling experience) agus chaitheamh aimsire a bhí ag Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé mar
dhuine óg.
Examiner comment
Concluding remarks
While a conclusion is not required, it does show off an impressive overall
understanding of the entire text. This student gives their own overall appraisal of
the merits of the text, as they have done throughout the answer.
Examiner comment
Overall grade
Eolas (33/35)
Firstly, this student has fulfilled the task assigned. They discussed both elements
(almost equally) of the question. They have written an answer with great detail
(850 words). Both the description of Maidhc Dainín’s school days and the hobbies
he had are well documented with detailed references to the text.
This student focused on:
the day the inspector visited;
Maidhc Dainín’s love of football;
Maidhc Dainín’s first day of school;
Maidhc Dainín’s love of music;
Maidhc Dainín’s time spent fishing with his father.
Each of the examples above was well understood. This student supported the
points they made with their own personal opinion on the significance of each event.
Gaeilge (5/5)
This was of an excellent standard. It is always worth re-reading your answers to fix
any small errors in spelling or grammar you can.
Eolas = 33/35
Gaeilge = 5/5
Total = 38/40 = 95% = H1
Useful links
Want to know more? Find out how to use our Studyclix Examiner Annotated
Essays for Irish.
By Conor Fitzgibbon
Conor teaches Irish and Geography at Skerries Community College,
Dublin. Conor has 10+ years of teaching experience and correcting
experience. Conor has multiple degrees under his belt including a
bachelor's degree in Irish and Geography, a post-graduate degree in
Education (Gaeilge) and a Masters of Science in Education, Training
Management (Leadership).
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Higher Irish Prose - A thig Ná Tit Orm
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13/04/2023, 09:39 H1 Sample Answer | A Thig Ná Tit Orm - 2020 - Studyclix

Translation: in the autobiography A Thig ná Tit Orm, Maidhc Dainín gives us an

How to approach this question

Description of the inspector’s visit

Description of Maidhc’s school days

I ndiaidh na bunscoile (after primary school), d’fhreastail Maidhc ar cheardscoil an

Description of Maidhc’s love of music

Related subjects & topics

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