DCU Library presents: Leaving Certificate Masterclasses - tips, tricks & tactics
Cregan Library
Dates: 7th, 8th and 9th May 2025
Location: Seamus Heaney Lecture Theatre (G114), Cregan Library, DCU St. Patrick's Campus, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
To apply: Read the details below and submit this Leaving Certificate Masterclasses 2025 form
Contact: Queries to libraryevents@dcu.ie
Author and former English teacher Dave Rudden, Irish instructor Aisling Sheerin and Maths tutor Eoin O'Mahony will deliver the Leaving Certificate Masterclasses. Each hour-long session will provide a practical deep dive into how to approach the relevant exam paper: from common mistakes to structuring answers to how to maximise your grade with the marking scheme in mind.
We encourage students to submit any questions they have in relation to the exams when filling in the application form. This will allow the presenters to address specific queries during the sessions.
| Date | Time | Subject | Speaker |
| Wednesday 7th May | 10:00 - 11:00 | English Paper 1 - Composition | Dave Rudden |
| Wednesday 7th May | 11:30 - 12:30 | English Paper 2 - Poetry | Dave Rudden |
| Thursday 8th May | 10:00 - 11:00 | Irish Paper 1 - Composition | Aisling Sheerin |
| Thursday 8th May | 11:30 - 12:30 | Irish Paper 2 - Prose and Poetry | Aisling Sheerin |
| Friday 9th May | 10:00 - 11:00 | Maths Paper 1 | Eoin O'Mahony |
| Friday 9th May | 11:30 - 12:30 | Maths Paper 2 | Eoin O'Mahony |
Dave Rudden
A former English teacher, Dave Rudden is the author of the award-winning Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy, as well as multiple works in the universe of Doctor Who. He was DCU's 2022 Writer-in-Residence, serves as a UCD Creative Fellow, and has visited hundreds of Irish schools to talk about writing, creativity and mental health. His new novel for 9 - 11 year olds, Conn of the Dead, is out on April 24th, 2025.
Aisling Sheerin
Aisling Sheerin holds a Masters in Irish-language translation from UCD and a Professional Masters in Education from Trinity College Dublin. She serves as an Education Project Manager at Maynooth University’s Centre for Irish Language. Additionally, she lends her expertise as an Instructor for the University’s Intensive Course in Written Irish-Language Accuracy. She is a PME Inspector and she is currently undertaking a PhD in Trinity College Dublin.
Eoin O'Mahony
Eoin O'Mahony holds a Masters Degree in Mathematics from Queen Mary University of London. He has previously worked as a tutor for the maths department in Trinity College Dublin and also for Disability Support in UCD. He now works as a maths tutor for The School of Mathematical Sciences at DCU, based in their Maths Learning Centre and he tutors for DCU's Access Service. He is very familiar with Higher Level Maths Paper 1 and 2, as he's been teaching both papers as part of courses delivered to potential DCU Access students since 2021.