In September, 2004, a revised syllabus in Leaving Certificate History was introduced into schools in the Republic of Ireland, replacing a syllabus that had been in place since 1969. Reflecting many decades of change in history teaching internationally, the revised syllabus places greater emphasis on history as activity and seeks to widen the breadth of coverage beyond the predominantly political focus that has been evident heretofore. Its underlying principle and the changes in practice it seeks to encourage present an agenda for significant educational change. As teachers attempt, for the first time, to meet the challenges of implementation, this dissertation seeks to shine a light on their perceptions and their practices.