leaving cert history eucharistic congress essay

Leaving Cert History

• 1912 to the Easter Rising 1916
• The Rise of Sinn Fein
• War of Independence
• THE ANGLO-IRISH TREATY 1921
• Reaction to the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921
• THE CAUSES OF THE IRISH CIVIL WAR
• The Irish Civil War
• Factors in the Outcome of the Civil War
• State Building – The Free State Cumann nGaedheal i...
• Threats to the new Free State
• Cumann nGaedheal Economic Policies 1923-1932

The Eucharistic Congress 1932

• Fianna Fail in Power – Political Developments
• Fianna Fail Economic Policies
• Fianna Fail in Power – Foreign Policies 1932-39
• Cuman na Gaedheal and Fianna Fail in Power Domesti...
• Cuman na Gaedheal and Fianna Fail in Power Economi...
• Cuman na Gaedheal and Fianna Fail in Power Foreign...
• Ireland and World War Two
• Belfast Blitz
• First Inter-Party Government
• Foreign Affairs 1949-1969
• Ireland in the 1950s
• Irish Society in the 1950s
• Eamonn De Valera
• Impact of RTE
• EEC and Irish Fisheries
• Challenges faced by Irish governments in the 1950s...
• Russian Revolution
• The Weimar Republic 1924- 1933
• Germany 1933-1939
• Nazi Propaganda
• NAZI CONTROL OF CHURCH AND STATE
• BRITAIN BETWEEN THE WARS
• FRANCE 1920-1945
• THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-45
• SOCIETY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
• Explain the importance of the technology of warfar...
• Anglo-American popular culture
• Hungary Revolution 1956

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• Feb 16, 2023

Mastering Leaving Cert History: A Guide to Writing Sample Essays

Updated: Feb 17

Leaving Cert History is one of the most challenging subjects for Irish students, especially when it comes to writing essays. The exam requires students to write two essays on topics chosen from a list of options. These essays carry a significant amount of marks and can make or break a student's chances of securing a good grade. However, with the right approach, mastering Leaving Cert History essays is possible. In this blog, we will provide tips and insights on how to write sample essays for Leaving Cert History.

1. Understanding the Essay Structure

The first step to writing a great essay is to understand its structure. An essay has three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should grab the reader's attention and provide background information on the topic. The body should include the main argument, supported by evidence and examples. The conclusion should summarise the main points and restate the thesis.

2. Choosing the Right Topic

Choosing the right topic is crucial for a successful essay. The Leaving Cert History syllabus provides a list of options for essays. It is essential to choose a topic that interests you and that you are familiar with. The topic should be narrow enough to provide a focused argument but broad enough to allow for enough research and analysis.

3. Research and Analysis

Research and analysis are crucial for a well-written essay. Start by reading through relevant texts and taking notes. Use primary sources, such as diaries, letters, and speeches, to support your argument. It is also essential to analyze the information and present a clear argument, using evidence to support your claims.

4. Writing Style and Grammar

Writing style and grammar are essential for a good essay. Use clear and concise language, avoiding slang and colloquialisms. Avoid long and complex sentences that can be difficult to understand. Make sure to proofread your work to avoid spelling and grammatical errors.

5. Time Management

Time management is crucial during the Leaving Cert exam. Make sure to allocate enough time to each section of the exam, including essay writing. Plan your essay before you start writing, including a clear thesis statement, main argument, and supporting evidence. Leave enough time for proofreading and editing.

In conclusion, writing a Leaving Cert History essay can be challenging, but with the right approach, it is possible to master it. Understanding the essay structure, choosing the right topic, research and analysis, writing style and grammar, and time management are all essential components of a successful essay. Practice writing sample essays, and seek feedback from your teachers to improve your writing skills. With these tips and insights, you will be well on your way to writing successful Leaving Cert History essays. Good luck!

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Leaving Cert History: Documents and Essays 2020

This page remains for information only – this course is not currently examinable. For the up to date course, see Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert History Guide 2021/22 and 2022/23

This our concise History edition. Our  full guide  include this and more. This version comprises tips, document notes and essays. This is a printable guide of approximately 20,000 words over 64 pages.

LEAVING CERTIFICATE HISTORY: LATER MODERN COURSE

General study and exam tips 

Course layout

Study and revision tips

Section 1: Answering Document-based Questions

Exam timing

Assessing the sources

General skills for answering questions

Question 1: Comprehension

Question 2: Comparison

Question 3: Criticism

Question 4: Context 

Section 1: Document Case Study

The Montgomery bus boycott

Lyndon B. Johnson and the Vietnam war

The Moon landing, 1969

Sample answer:  What was the reaction to the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1956?

Sections 2 and 3: Essay Writing 

Essay skills

Planning and laying out an essay

Other tips and tricks

Sample plan

Section 2: Irish History 

Topic 1: Ireland and the Union, 1815 – 1870

Sample essays: 

a. What were the responses of Charles Trevelyan and/or Asenath Nicholson to Famine in Ireland? (2017)

b. What were the aims of Daniel O’Connell and to what extent did he achieve them?  (2016)

Topic 2: Movements for political and social reform.

Sample essay:

a. How did Unionism develop during the period 1886 – 1914? (2011)

b. What did one or more of the following contribute to cultural revival during the period 1870- 1914: the GAA; the Gaelic League; the Anglo-Irish Literary Revival? (2012)

Topic 3: The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition.

Sample Essay: What was the significance of the Eucharistic Congress, 1932?

Topic 5: Politics and society in Northern Ireland

Religion, Culture and Science

Sample essay:  What was the contribution of the Apprentice Boys of Derry to the celebration of religious and cultural identity among that city’s unionist minority? (2006)

Topic 6: Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949 – 1989:

Sample essay: How did Anglo-Irish relations develop during the period 1949-1989? (2012)

Section 3: Europe and the Wider World 

Topic 3: Dictatorship and Democracy in Europe

Sample essay:  How effective were Stalin’s moves for change during his time as leader of Russia?

The rise of Fascism (Italy and Germany)Sample essay: How did dictators use propaganda and/or terror to maintain their power?

With our guide on History, you will get:

access to general LC History quiz on 625points

access to our informal History FAQ video

priority access to 625Lab: we will give you feedback on one typed up answer corrected. Use the  625Lab submission form  and your essay will be moved to the top of the queue

priority access for Leaving Cert study advice. Email [email protected] with your query

the notes as detailed above

Does it come in the post? 

It’s a pdf download, so no need to wait for the postman. You automatically get a download link straight into your email inbox. If you run into any problems with the download, we will sort you out – simply reply to the email you get from us.  

Can I print it? 

Yes. All notes are printable. 

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• Search for:
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• Hedge Schools
• World War I
• Revolutionary Period 1912-23
• Devalera & Fianna Fail
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Leaving Cert history case studies

Leaving Certificate Curriculum: Document Case Studies & relevent HI articles

EARLY MODERN IRELAND

Topic 1: Reform and Reformation in Tudor Ireland, 1494-1558:

The Plantation of Laois/Offaly:

James Lyttleton, ‘ Seventeenth-century West Offaly : Accommodating the new realities (Vol. 12.1, Spring 2004)

Michael Quinn, ‘ Francis Cosby (1510-80), Stradbally, Queen’s County and the Tudor Conquest of Ireland ’ (Vol. 14.5, Sept-Oct 2006)

Women and marriage under Gaelic law

Art Cosgrove, ‘ Marriage in medieval Ireland ’ (Vol. 2.3, Autumn 1994)

The Bardic Schools:

Marc Caball, ‘Bardic poetry & the analysis of Gaelic mentalities’ (Vol. 2.2, Summer 1994) Can’t find this

Bernadette Cunningham, ‘ Irish language sources for Early Modern Ireland ’ (Vol. 4.1, Spring 1996).

Patrick Clark, ‘The O’Clery’s: hereditary historians and poets’ (Vol.18.3, May//June 2010) Can’t find this

Topic 2: Rebellion and conquest in Elizabethan Ireland, 1558-1603:

The Lordship of Tír Eoghain:

Hiram Morgan, ‘Gaelic Lordship and Tudor Conquest: Tír Eoghain, 1541-1603’ (Vol. 13.5, Sept/Oct 2005)  Can’t find this

Elizabethan Dublin:

Colm Lennon, ‘ Dublin’s Great Explosion of 1597 ’ (Vol. 3.3, Autumn 1995)

Topic 3: Kingdom v. colony: the struggle for mastery in Ireland, 1603-1660:

The Scots migration to Ulster:

Special issue on ‘ The Ulster plantation ’ (Vol. 17.6, Nov/Dec 2009)

Micheál MacCraith, ‘ Printing in the vernacular: the Louvain Project ’ (Vol. 15.4, July/Aug 2007)

Topic 4: Establishing a colonial ascendancy, 1660-1715:

Restoration Dublin:

John Gibney, ‘Restoration Dublin in the Ireland of its time, c.1660-1700’ (Vol. 14.3, May/June 2006)  Can’t find this

Angus Winchester, ‘ Dublin in the 1680s ’ (Vol. 15.1, Jan/Feb 2007)

Topic 5: Colony vs. kingdom: tensions in mid-18th century Ireland, 1715-1770:

The Ponsonbys:

Jame Kelly, ‘Henry Flood: the forgotten patriot’ (Vol. 7.1, Spring 1999)   Can’t find this

The Whiteboys:

James Patterson, ‘’Educated Whiteboyism’: the Cork tithe war, 1798-9’ (Vol. 12.4, Winter 2004)

Topic 6: The end of the Irish kingdom and the establishment of the Union, 1770-1815:

The Wexford Rebellion:

Daniel Gahan, ‘The military strategy of the Wexford United Irishmen in 1798’ (Vol. 1.4, Winter 1993)

Daniel Gahan, ‘The Scullabogue massacre 1798’ (Vol. 4.3, Autumn 1996)

The rise of Belfast:

Jonathan Bardon, ‘Belfast at its zenith’ (Vol. 1.4, Winter 1993)

Bill Rolston, ‘’A lying old scoundrel’: Waddell Cunningham & Belfast’s role in the slave trade’ (Vol. 11.1, Spring 2003)

Maynooth College:

Daire Keogh, ‘Maynooth: A Catholic seminary in a Protestant state’ (Vol. 3.3, Autumn 1995)

LATER MODERN IRELAND

Topic 1: Ireland and the Union, 1815-1870:

Private responses to famine, 1845-1849:

Christine Kinealy, ‘’The widow’s mite: private relief during the Great Famine’, (Vol. 16.2

Rob Goodbody, ‘Quakers & the Famine’ (Vol. 6.1, Spring 1998)

Peter Grey, ‘The triumph of dogma: ideology and famine relief (Vol. 3.2, Summer 1995)

The campaign for Catholic Emancipation, 1823-1829:

Thomas Bartlett, ‘The Catholic question in the eighteenth century’ (Vol. 1.1, Spring 1993)

Topic 2: Movements for political and social reform, 1870-1914:

The elections of 1886 and 1886: issues and outcomes:

Brian Walker, ‘The 1885 and 1886 general elections in Ireland’ (Vol. 13.6, Nov/Dec 2005)

Dublin 1913: strike and lockout:

Padraig Yeates, ‘The Dublin 1913 Lockout’ (Vol. 9.2, Summer 2001)

Christiaan Corlett, ‘The Church Street disaster, September 1913’ (Vol. 17.2, Mar/Apr 2009)

The GAA to 1891:

Noel Kissane, ‘Drink, Sunday School and the GAA: The use of documents in the teaching of history’ (Vol. 12.3, Autumn 2004)

Tom Hunt, ‘Classless cricket? Westmeath 1880-1905’ (Vol. 12.2, Summer 2004)

Richard McElligott, ‘’Degenearating from sterling Irishmen into contemptible West Britons’: The GAA and rugby in Kerry, 1885-1905’ (Vol. 19.4, July/Aug 2011)

Topic 3; The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 1912-1949:

The Treaty negotiations, October-December 1921:

Michael Laffan, ‘The emergence of the ‘Two Irelands’, 1912-25’  (Vol. 12.4, Winter 2004)

Belfast during World War II:

Brian Barton, ‘The Belfast Blitz, April-May 1941’ (Vol. 5.3, Autumn 1997)

The Eucharistic Congress, 1932 :

Dermot Keogh, ‘The Catholic Church and the Irish Free State, 1922-32’ (Vol. 2.1, Spring 1994)

Rory O’Dwyer, ‘On show to the world: the Eucharistic Congress, 1932’ (Vol. 15.6, Nov/Dec 2007)

Topic 4: The Irish diaspora, 1840-1966:

Grosse Isle:

Michael Quigley, ‘Grosse Ile: Canada’s island famine memorial’ (Vol. 5.2, Summer 1997)

De Valera in America, June 1919-December 1920:

David B. Franklin, ‘Bigotry in ‘Bama: De Valera’s visit to Birmingham Alabama, April 1920’ (Vol 12.4, Winter 2004)

Michael Doorly, ‘The Friends of Irish Freedom: a case-study in Irish-American nationalism, 1916-21’ (Vol. 16.2, Mar/Apr 2008)

The Holy Host mission to Nigeria, 1945-1966:

Kevin O’Sullivan, ‘’The wind of change’: decolonisation in British West Africa’ (Vol. 14.4, Jul/Aug 2006)

Mary Dempsey, ‘The birth of a mission’ (Vol. 14.4, Jul/Aug 2006)

Topic 5: Politics and society in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993:

The Sunningdale agreement and the power-sharing executive, 1973-1974:

Gordon Gillespie, ‘Sunningdale and the 1974 Ulster Worker’s Council strike’ (Vol. 15.3, May/Jun 2007)

Topic 6: Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949-1989:

The impact of RTÉ 1962-1972:

Robert Savage, ‘’A stranger among us: Edward Roth and the development of Telefís Éireann’ (Vol. 18.2, Mar/Apr 2010)

EARLY MODERN EUROPE AND THE WIDER WORLD

Topic 2: Religion and power: politics in the later 16th century, 1567-1609:

The Spanish Armada:

Hiram Morgan, ‘Teaching the Armada: an introduction to the Anglo-Spanish War, 1585-1604’ (Vol. 14.5, Sept/Oct 2006)

Topic 3: The eclipse of Old Europe, 1609-1660:

Galileo and the Inquisition

Ernan McMullin, ‘ Galileo and Peter Lombard ’ (Vol. 15.4, Jul/Aug 2007)

Topic 5: Establishing empires, 1715-1775:

The West Indies slave plantations:

Micheál Ó Siochrú, ‘Shipped for the Barbadoes: Cromwell and Irish migration to the Caribbean’ (Vol. 16.4, Jul/Aug 2008) Can’t find

Nini Rodgers, ‘ The Irish and the Atlantic slave trade ’ (Vol. 15.3, May/Jun 2007)

LATER MODERN EUROPE AND THE WIDER WORLD

Topic 3: Dictatorship and democracy in Europe, 1920-1945:

Stalin’s show trials:

Geoffrey Roberts, ‘ Stalin’s victory? The Soviet Union and World II ’ (Vol. 16.1, Jan/Feb 2008)

The Nuremberg Rallies:

John Horne.’The origins and nature of Fascism and Nazisim in Europe (Vol. 13.1, Jan/Feb 2005)   Can’t find

Topic 4: Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1992:

The Hungarian Uprising, 1956:

Terry Cox, ‘Hungary 1956’ (Vol. 14.3, May/Jun 2006) Can’t find

Topic 5: European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1990:

British withdrawal from India, 1945-1947:

Deirdre McMahon, ‘ The 1947 partition of India: Irish parallels ’ (Vol. 18.4, Jul/Aug 2010)

Topic 6: The United States and the World, 1945-1989:

The Montgomery bus boycott, 1956:

Quincy Lehr, ‘’ We are determined to struggle for justice and equality’: the Civil Rights era in African American history ’ (Vol. 15.1, Jan/Feb 2007)

Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam, 1963-1968:

Sandra Scanlon, ‘’ That bitch of a war’: Lyndon B. Johnson and Vietnam ’ (Vol.16.3, May/June 2008)

Personal Histories

On this day.

• 1972 Richard Moore (10) was blinded by a British Army rubber bullet in Derry. He subsequently founded Children in Crossfire (1996), a charity that aims to eradicate poverty and help children in war zones.
• 1921 In an incident known as ‘the Smashing of the Van’, IRA volunteers made an unsuccessful attempt to free Brigadier Frank Carty, who was being taken by armed escort to Glasgow’s Duke Street prison. One escorting officer was killed.
• 1939 In the wake of protests from northern Catholic bishops and Taoiseach Éamon de Valera, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced that conscription would not extend to Northern Ireland.
• 1979 Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first female prime minister.
• 1869 Tom Lefroy (93), Limerick-born lawyer and Irish chief justice (1852–66) who had a brief relationship with novelist Jane Austen (1795/6), died.
• 1916 Joseph Mary Plunkett (28), Ned Daly (25), Michael O’Hanrahan (39) and Willie Pearse (34) executed.
• 1773 Art Ó Laoghaire (26), former captain in the Hungarian Hussars under Empress Maria Theresa and subject of the famous lament Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire by his wife, Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, was killed in a scuffle with soldiers near Millstreet, Co. Cork.

Leaving Cert history: Extra time and choice ‘should be made permanent’

‘it was a paper for the well prepared higher-level student’, says one teacher.

Leaving Cert students faced the history exam on Wednesday afternoon. Photographer: Dara Mac Dónaill

The higher-level history paper provided students with choice and time, and the adjustments should be made permanent, according to Susan Cashell, history teacher at The Institute of Education.

“It was a paper for the well prepared higher-level student,” Ms Cashell said.

Jamie Dockery, a teacher at Tyndall College in Co Carlow, agreed that amendments made to this year’s exam following the Covid 19 pandemic have made a decent grade in this exam much more achievable.

“This has been very much welcomed by both teachers and students,” said Mr Dockery, who is also a Studyclix.ie subject expert for history. “The exam has often been criticised for being a race against the clock, but this was not the case this summer.”

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Ms Cashell said that, similarly to last year, students only had to answer the documents based question (DBQ) and write two essays. Normally they have to answer the DBQ and write three essays.

This meant candidates had one hour for each essay and 50 mins for the documents based question.

“The added time is such a bonus it should be adopted permanently,” she said.

Ms Cashell said the compulsory document based question on Coleraine was straightforward, provided that students knew the key words autobiography and objective.

“Some students might have been surprised by the contextualisation question 4 that didn’t just concentrate on Coleraine but asked for other issues that contributed to tension in Derry in the 1960′s,” Ms Cashell said.

[  Examwatch 2022: Reaction to Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams  ]

This year, students only had to answer two essay questions instead of three.

“This would have given them time to answer the good choice of lovely survey questions in the US section such as the strengths and weaknesses of the US economy 1945-89 and developments in race relations 1945-89,” Ms Cashell said.

Ms Cashell said that the dictatorship section, which is popular among students, provided sufficient choice, although those who had studied Stalin had to be careful to note that the question included peace and war.

“The sovereignty section, which also proves popular, was more limited. There was a good question on factors that contributed to partition but it was not a question to attempt unless you have done it before.

“The question on the case study of the Eucharistic congress was on its impact and some students might find it difficult to write enough on that subject,” Ms Cashell said.

Mr Dockery said section two of the higher level exam was not as straightforward but still presented candidates with some good opportunities.

“Students banking on the reliable ‘Hitler question’ in the dictator and democracy topic will have been left disappointed with their offering here: ‘Why did Italy and/or Germany embrace dictatorship in the inter‐war period?’ Overall however, as a teacher, I couldn’t be much happier with the choices students were given here.”

On the ordinary level paper, Mr Dockery said that students were not burdened with the lengthy essay answers that their Higher Level classmates have to grapple with.

“With the Covid 19 amendments, ordinary Level students have been given even more opportunities to do well as the exam has even more question options than usual.

“Overall, the ordinary level exam was a nice one which gave those students who prepared well the opportunity to achieve a good grade.

“ It was particularly pleasing to see a number of questions related to significant women who contributed to Irish and world history with Isabella Tod, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, Evie Hone, Maureen O’Hara, Leni Riefenstahl, Simone de Beauvoir, Margaret Thatcher and Betty Friedan among those making an appearance,” Mr Dockery said.

Try this one at home:

Leaving Cert history, higher level

Dictatorship and democracy in Europe, 1920‐1945: Answer one of the following questions:

Why did Italy and/or Germany embrace dictatorship in the inter‐war period? What were the main social and economic challenges facing Britain during the period 1920‐1939? What were the characteristics of Stalin’s leadership during peace and war? What was the impact of Anglo‐American popular culture on Europe?

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