Moving to Ireland, Cork from California

[elena007]

Hi,
Can someone explain me, please if my son now is 14 years old, is he going to a 2nd year of Junior Cert Year or 3d Year?
And also about Irish language, I read that at the end of 3d Junior Year Irish and another foreign language are in the core exam. But my son knows only English because here in USA they start to learn another second language only in High School which will be his next school year at age of 14 and then in 4 years of High school and 4 years of learning French or German or Spanish will have the exam.

Please explain me how he would be able to pass an exam in Irish or another foreign language for one or two years of studying?
Thank you