Our President: A Special Person for Ireland

Active learning engages students by letting them embody roles and create artifacts, which builds lasting understanding of abstract civic concepts. For a topic about the President as a symbol of unity, movement and discussion help students grasp how ceremonial duties connect to democracy.

• 2nd Year
• Active Citizenship and the Democratic State
• 4 activities
• 30 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the constitutional role and ceremonial functions of the President of Ireland.
2. Explain the President's impartiality and how it differs from the political role of the Taoiseach.
3. Compare the President's duties in representing Ireland domestically and internationally.
4. Analyze the significance of the President as a symbol of national unity and continuity.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Role-Play: A Day as President

Assign roles like President, Taoiseach, and advisors. Groups simulate signing a bill, appointing a judge, and hosting a visitor: discuss scenario, act it out, then debrief on real duties. Rotate roles for full participation.

Prepare & details

Who is the President of Ireland?

Facilitation Tip: For the role-play, provide students with script cards that include both the President’s lines and the Taoiseach’s responses to make the separation of powers explicit.

⏱ 50 min·Pairs

Research Walk: Presidents Gallery

Students research one past President in pairs using provided sheets, create a poster with photo, achievements, and fun fact. Display posters around room for gallery walk where pairs present to others.

Prepare & details

What are some special things the President does?

Facilitation Tip: During the Presidents Gallery walk, have students jot down one question per portrait to discuss afterward, ensuring they engage with historical context.

⏱ 30 min·Whole Class

Discussion Circle: Why We Need a President

In a whole class circle, pose key questions. Students share ideas on unity and symbolism, vote on most important duty, and create a class mind map linking to daily life.

Prepare & details

Why is it important to have a President for our country?

Facilitation Tip: In the Discussion Circle, use a talking object to keep contributions focused and give every student a turn to speak.

⏱ 40 min·Pairs

Timeline Project: Presidents of Ireland

Individuals or pairs build a class timeline: locate birthplaces, election years, key events. Add photos and quotes, then present one segment to explain evolution of the role.

Prepare & details

Who is the President of Ireland?

Facilitation Tip: For the Timeline Project, provide pre-cut event cards so students focus on sequencing rather than artistic precision.

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should emphasize the symbolic nature of the Presidency by connecting each duty to a real-world event, such as linking state visits to photos of Michael D. Higgins welcoming a foreign leader. Avoid framing the President as a leader who makes decisions; instead, highlight advisory processes and impartiality. Research shows that students grasp constitutional roles better when they see them enacted or visualized on timelines, so prioritize activities that require movement and creation over passive listening.

What to Expect

Students will explain the President’s role in concrete terms, compare it to the Taoiseach’s, and justify its importance for Irish society. They will use evidence from activities to support their answers and correct misunderstandings in peer discussions.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Role-Play: A Day as President, watch for students assuming the President signs laws like the Taoiseach.

What to Teach Instead

After students act out the bill-signing scene, pause the class and ask, 'Who advised the President to sign this bill?' Have the class repeat the lines where the Taoiseach or Cabinet 'requests' the signature to reinforce that the President acts on advice.

Common Misconception

During Discussion Circle: Why We Need a President, watch for students describing the President as elected directly by all voters.

Common Misconception

During Timeline Project: Presidents of Ireland, watch for students labeling the President as a powerful leader like a king.

What to Teach Instead

When students place the 1937 Constitution on the timeline, ask them to circle the phrase 'impartial' and discuss what it means in context. Have them add a note explaining how the role was designed to differ from monarchy.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Role-Play: A Day as President, provide three statements about the President’s role (e.g., 'The President can dissolve the Dáil without anyone’s advice.'). Ask students to label each as 'True' or 'False' and explain their reasoning for one statement using evidence from the role-play.

Quick Check

After Discussion Circle: Why We Need a President, ask students to write down two differences between the President’s duties and the Taoiseach’s duties. Collect responses to identify who can articulate the separation of ceremonial and executive powers.

Discussion Prompt

During Timeline Project: Presidents of Ireland, pose the question: 'How did the role of President change after 1937 compared to before?' Listen for students to mention the shift from monarchy to democratic impartiality, using timeline evidence to support their points.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students who finish early to draft a short speech the President might give at a state banquet, including references to Ireland’s history or values.
• For students who struggle, pair them with a peer to create a dual timeline: one side showing presidential actions, the other showing government actions, with arrows to show where they interact.
• Provide extra time for students to research and present on a president not covered in class, such as Erskine Childers or Mary Robinson, to deepen understanding of the role’s evolution.

Key Vocabulary

Head of State	The chief public representative of a country, who may be a monarch or an elected president. The President of Ireland is the Head of State.
Áras an Uachtaráin	The official residence and workplace of the President of Ireland, located in Phoenix Park, Dublin. It is where many presidential duties are carried out.
Oireachtas	The national parliament of Ireland, consisting of the President, Dáil Éireann (the lower house), and Seanad Éireann (the upper house). Bills must pass here before the President signs them.
Taoiseach	The head of government in Ireland, equivalent to a Prime Minister. The President appoints the Taoiseach on the advice of the Dáil.
Constitutional Role	The specific duties and powers assigned to an office by a country's constitution. The President's constitutional role ensures stability and national representation.