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Educational objectives and research have moved from a “monolingual bias” towards a multilingual perspective in comprehending the complex nature of multiple language acquisition. This shift has been echoed at an institutional level, with supranational bodies such as the European Union and the Council of Europe promoting multilingualism in and through education. A similar dynamic has emerged in Ireland, where there has been a move away from a “bilingual bias” towards a focus on multilingualism. While Irish educational policies have indeed shifted to support multiple language acquisition at school, obstacles remain regarding students’ ability to harness experiences with different languages. This article examines the nature of these obstacles and identifies their impact on learning French as a third language through quantitative and qualitative data gathered in both English- and Irish-medium schools. Questionnaire data provide insights into barriers to forging multilingual links, while interview data focus on specific examples of strategy transfer between languages and the emergence of metalinguistic awareness. Our findings, along with research and policy initiatives at European and Irish levels, are subsequently discussed in order to identify potential opportunities for supporting multilingual teaching practices and language policy in the Irish context and beyond.
