Junior Cycle students at Sutton Park School, Dublin, before the start of the State examinations on Wednesday. Photograph: Dara Mac DónaillThe Junior Cycle religion paper was topical, with environmental concerns featuring prominently on the paper, according to Stephen O’Hara, TUI subject representative and a religious education teacher at Castlerea Community College in Roscommon.
The religious faith of footballer Mo Salah and boxer Katie Taylor featured alongside questions on how family and friends can influence religious faith, while another question asked students about the challenges of living according to the values of their religion. “There was a question about Charlie Bird raising funds for motor neurone disease, which was very topical,” said Mr O’Hara. “It captured his well-publicised struggle [with motor neurone disease] and also included a reference to Croagh Patrick, which has a long tradition and history.
“It was a paper that would be accessible to students from different backgrounds, faith beliefs or secular backgrounds. There was enough choice within questions and across the various sections.”