It has been a great year for debating in the High School this year. Graeme Farrell, Jake Walsh, Diarmuid Corr, and I represented the High School in the Denny Munster School Debating Competition. With collectively no debating experience between us, we met in September to form two teams, and we could hardly believe that we could have achieved as much as we did.


In a competition largely dominated by Cork City schools we somehow found ourselves having three members of the school debating team in a Munster Semi-Final, Not bad for a group of people participating in their first debates. While t h e t e am o f J a k e a n d Gr a eme h a d what we might call an “easy” route to the Semi-Final. Barry and Diarmuid, after some initial hiccups, had a harder time of it. Fortunately, the adjudicators of our debate, decided to put me through as an individual speaker.


Many thanks to Mr Milling, whose vast political knowledge was put to great use in that debate. After breezing through our respective quarter-final debates the three of us found ourselves in the bizarre situation of being in opposition to each other in our semi-final debate, held in UCC in February. Sadly, none of the three of us made it through. Because of our outstanding achievement in getting to a Munster semi-final, Jake and I were also invited to try out for the Irish debating team.


Since then, Jake and I have run an in-school Debating competition. We have been startled by the general high standard of the participating teams, and hope to hold a final in the near future.


2007-08 was a great fun debating year in the High School, but things look even better for next year. I'd like to thank Mr O' Sullivan and Mr Milling for the great work they've done with debating this year. And hopefully next year, we'll get a team in to the Munster final!

Barry O'Gorman

Bunaíodh cumann díospóireachta i mbliana agus ó thus bhí a lán suim ann, go háirithe ón séú bliain. Ghlac foireann páirt sa chomórtas díospóireachta a eagraíonn "Feachtas" gach bliain. Rinne said sár-obair agus bhuaigh said i gcoinne an Gealscoil i gCill Chainnigh agus Coláiste Belvedere i mBaile Atha Cliath. Beidh siad sa chraobh babhta i mí Eanáir. Chuaigh an foireann - Seán O'Ceallaigh, Carl O'Riain, Lúcás de Priondragás agus Ruairí Síocháin - go dtí Oireachtas na Gaeilge i nDoire i rith an briseadh lár téarma. Ghlac siad páirt i ndíospóireachtaí agus bhí sult agus craic acu (as Gaeilge dár ndóigh!). Ghlac na buachaillí chéanna páirt i ndíospóireachtaí Gael Linn freisin ach cé go ndearna said obair iontach ní bhfuair said áit sa dara babhta. Ba mhór an feall é ach beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach! Tá foireann sa triú bliain freisin - Liam Glendon, Alan Prendragast agus Michael Kenna. Ghlac siad páirt i ndíospóireachtaí Gael Linn freisin, agus bhí said den scoth, cé nach ndearna siad díospóireacht riamh. Tá súil ag an gCumann Díospóireachta go n-eireodh le na buachaillí sa chraobh babhta agus go dtógfaidh said an teideal ar ais chuig an scoil!

The School is debating on all fronts this year. Senior students are competing in the ESB Philosophical Society Munster Schools Debates, Concern Debates, The Mental Health Public Speaking Competition and, it is hoped, The Tipperary Institute Schools Debates next term.

A very enthusiastic squad has assembled around Mr O' Sullivan's Lunch time Debate Activity. Stephen Casey and David Burke (6thYear) are the rock on which this hobby is based. Talented 5 th Year students: Scott Ahearne, Philip Bannon, Stephen Braeur, Stephen Britton, Brian Carey, David Carroll, Eoghan Corr and Patrick Corr are working hard to keep things going and 2nd Year Students: Johnny Kelly, Karl Ryan, Rory Kiely, Alan Ward and many others are showing interest. It is hoped to generate some internal debate for 2 nd Year, later in the year.

Back row: David Burke, Stephen Casey, Mr O'Sullivan, Philip Bannon, David Carroll, Scott Ahearne.
Front row: Stephen Britton, Brian Carey, Patrick Corr, Stephen Brauer, Eoghan Corr.

At present Philip Bannon is competing in the Munster Schools Debate and is through to The Munster Final of the competition as an individual speaker.

Brian Carey, Patrick Corr, Stephen Braeur and Stephen Britton are competing in The Concern Debates

Philip Bannon, David Carroll and Scott Ahearne will compete in The Mental Health Public Speaking Competition.

It remains to be seen who will represent the school in the Tipperary Institute competition.

The squad is reaping the benefits of debate and public speaking in no small measure. They are meeting many like-minded students from a diversity of schools and engaging in worthwhile, positive argument with them. They have learnt the importance of structure in argument, a skill that will serve them well in the future. They are keeping up to date with Current Affairs through the Media; for some it is the first time they have taken an interest in these matters and they are already exhibiting a new confidence in informed debate.

We thank Miss Byrne and Miss Burke for the time and energy they have given to this hobby.

This has been a busy year for The Debate Squad at the school. A core of fifteen Fifth Year students involved themselves in the 'Concern Debates', 'The Munster Schools Debates', 'The Tiipperary Institute Debates' and 'The Mental Health Public Speaking Competition'.

These competitions proved useful experience for the students with participants reaching the Semi-Final and Final Stages of competition. Unfortunately, the squad has no silverware to display this year. We thank The Tipperary Institute for the runner up prize in their Institute Debates. The Fifth Year students are looking forward eagerly to next term's competitions.

The standard of debate in the school continues to rise. This is thanks to the endeavours of Sixth Year students Stephen Casey and Bavid Burke. These two first represented the school in Transition Year. They have taken part in all three debating competitions over their three senior cycle years. This year they brought valuable experience to the squad.

The In-house Second Year Debates are going well. Thirty-two students entered the competition and after three opening rounds we are now looking forward to a Final of eight speeches. These debates are run by the Fifth Year students, who prepare the participants, adjudicate during the debates and give the Adjudicators Closing Speech in turn.

It is hoped that in future years we will run In-House Debates for the First year classes and the Third Year classes as well as the Second Year classes.