Denny Leinster Schools Debating Competition

HeyYou · 02-06-2005 12:48pm #1

Hello all,

For those of you who haven't heard of it, the Denny Leinster Schools Debating Competition (formerly sponsored by ESB) is the largest and most prestigious debaeting competition for 2nd level schools in this country. It is run jointly by the Literary and Historical Society of UCD and the Historical Society in TCD; this year, I am the convenor for the L&H and wanted to let you all know about the competiton in case some of you hadn't heard about it yet.

As always, letters and emails will be going out to schools soon about the competiton for the coming academic year, and insofar as is possible I'll keep people posted on this thread. Anyone with an interest in public speaking should seriously consider entering the competition, even if you have no experience at all. Everyone has to start somewhere, and there may be workshops before the start of the competition to teach people the basics.

Talk to your teachers if you're interested in taking part, particularly if you're from a school which doesn't regularly enter teams in the competition, it's a lot of fun and well worth your while. More info as things develop.

Irwin

Piste · 02-06-2005 2:10pm

Sounds interesting...is it for all 2nd level students or for those above a certain age?

jono087 · 02-06-2005 6:53pm

only leinster?

HeyYou · 02-06-2005 7:40pm

Traditionally 4th, 5th and 6th years enter the competition, but some 3rd years have entered from time to time. There's a new Junior version of the competition which staretd last year and is looking to be great this year, so all 2nd level students can enter something.

As for the Leinster situation, there are Munster and Galway-region competitions too. They're smaller (understandably) and are run by UCC and NUIG respectively. Hence, I have nothing to do with them!

Crash · 03-06-2005 12:50am

ahahah, you have to work with the hist lads

HeyYou · 03-06-2005 8:33am

Sounds like you've had a bad experience... :rolleyes:

Crash · 03-06-2005 2:48pm

No, its just a fair few of the comittee this year are mates of mine

for instance if you were involved with it last year, you'd have had to put up with cormac quigley

so slag cormac for me

HeyYou · 04-06-2005 12:10pm

Done and done!

pinkpimp · 04-06-2005 6:24pm

Yeah, a nice 1, 2 finish this year, eh?
Its because we're just better.

StupidLikeAFox · 06-06-2005 11:17am

Maybe its just me, but anytime i see this thread title i really want a sausage

Raphael · 06-06-2005 12:13pm

I was wondering who Danny Leinster was for a second.....

jono087 · 06-06-2005 4:10pm

Danny Leinster.......he's a nice guy

david · 13-06-2005 8:36pm

Nah he's a wanker in my experience

jono087 · 16-06-2005 1:41pm

is he actually a real guy?

david · 16-06-2005 2:55pm

Hahaha no...

Pwnt

jono087 · 17-06-2005 6:59pm

thought so :cool:

article6 · 18-06-2005 3:36pm

I should be promoting our competition but this is neither the time nor place to bring up debating society wars. Good luck Irwin, and sorry about having to work with Bartley and Roisín

HeyYou · 19-06-2005 12:17pm

You're right, it's not. And I'm sure there's no need for the hard luck stuff, I'm looking forward to working with both of them. It's looking good for this year, I'll keep people posted as things develop.

HeyYou · 25-09-2005 7:18pm

Hey all,

The application process for the Denny Leinster Schools' Debating Competition is now underway. Invitations have been sent out to every school in Leinster (and Cavan and Monaghan too, cos who are we to leave people out?), and the application forms are available on www.leinsterschoolsdebating.com. Also available on the website is a handbook with pointers and advice for first-time speakers which is well worth a look whether you're new to debating or a seasoned hack.

New to the competition this year is a Workshop which will be held in UCD on October 8th. While attendance is not compulsory for participants, it is recommended for students with no previous experience of public speaking. A maximum of 5 participants per schools (including teachers) can attend the workshop, so if you're interested ask your debating/ English teacher to email me at irwin@irishschoolsdebating.com detailing how many people from your school would like to come along.

This is the largest non-sporting competition for second level students in the country and is an enormous amount of fun to take part in, I really can't recommend it enough. Hope to see some of you soon!

Yours,

Irwin Gill,
Convenor,
Denny Leinster Schools Debating Competition,
Literary and Historical Society, UCD

Outcast · 25-09-2005 8:24pm

Yay! Tis debating time again. Denny rocks socks. Got to the semis last year, will hopefully get to the final this year. What time is that workshop at? Is there any point in seasoned debaters (heehee) going?

Who else is entering?

Starbabe · 25-09-2005 8:32pm

Mmmm... sausages....

Too bad I live in Ulster.

HeyYou · 26-09-2005 10:46am

Ah sure come along if you want, you're not so good that you've nothing left to learn from college oldies. It's at 1pm in Theatre L in the Arts Block, tealk to your teachers.

Irwin

J Campion · 30-09-2005 9:26pm

Yeah I'll probably be there. 1p.m. Anybody know what bus goes from O'Connell St. to UCD?

**JazzHands** · 30-09-2005 9:30pm

oi art 6, I'm not that bad. And there's Shivers in Munster too. Anywho, I know this be Leinster promo but like Irwin said... inclusivity and the like (somewhat paraphrased)... Connaught, Donegal and Clare are in my hands so son't you worry if you live too far away from the pale :P. Lotsa fun, really rewarding. I'll be in contact with your scholls but there's nothing like a grassroots level push!
til soon,
Róisín

HeyYou · 01-10-2005 10:19am

Indeed, there's a competition available to you no matter where you live, get stuck in! And as for buses, the 46A, 746 or 10 will bring you to UCD. Be in the John Henry Newman Building (Theatre L) at 12.45- and please make sure you've reserved your places by emailing me at irwin@irishschoolsdebating.com before you turn up, I don't want to be turning people away...

jono087 · 01-10-2005 6:39pm

sausages........

Flashling · 01-10-2005 7:25pm

I'm doing it (it think) but it sounds TERRIFYING. More so than your standard debates. So, being the lazy coward I am, I might not.....

TERRIFYING!

Dearv · 01-10-2005 7:26pm

Im coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (even tho im not actually doin the denny debates - im in concern, mace and trinity phil speaks instead) but lookin forward 2 another ctyier reunion!!!

Flashling · 01-10-2005 7:31pm

Ooh, I'm doing concern too! First round against muckross, then the institute, then St. Micheals! Don't suppose anyone here goes to those schools? (bar Liz in muckross)

J Campion · 01-10-2005 8:01pm

I'm doin Denny, Mace, Concern and will probably get in some public speakin competitions too. Ah I do love TY!!! Flashling: ah go on, it's good craic, I did it last year, it's fairly daunting the first couple of times but it's worth it. Plus I'll be doin it. I rest my case. Do it!!!

the evil lime · 02-10-2005 10:59am

hey I'm a member of the L&H, are any actual experiences/ qualifications required to adjudicate?

HeyYou · 02-10-2005 2:18pm

Lots, lots of questions. This pleases Convenor, the god of convening things

But seriously:

1) Flashling: give it a go, it's not more terrifying than any other kind of debating, which are usually fun once you get over your nerves the first time.

2) Dearv: you're doing all the wrong competitions! Well, any Mace competition run by TCD or UCD will usually be good, but the other two are horrendous competitions. The Phil in TCD just don't have as good debaters or adjudicators as the L&H or the Hist; as a result, they can't really give decent worthwhile advice to the same level as Denny adjudicators can, and they frequently get adjudications wrong. You will of course be welcome at the Workshop regardless (once your teacher emails me beforehand, curses upon he who shows up without doing that) as our primary aim is to encourage all forms of debating in school. However, you should really consider stepping up into the big leagues and doing a real competition, run by people who know what they're doing and do it well.

3) The evil lime; there's a notice on the L&H board at the Wall in The Arts Block, have a read and put your name down. If you're new to adjudication and want to get involved that's fine; there's millions of old experienced debaters who you can learn from, that's why we get them to adjudicate with newbies.

Irwin

Dearv · 02-10-2005 3:14pm

HeyYou wrote:

2) Dearv: you're doing all the wrong competitions! Well, any Mace competition run by TCD or UCD will usually be good, but the other two are horrendous competitions. The Phil in TCD just don't have as good debaters or adjudicators as the L&H or the Hist; as a result, they can't really give decent worthwhile advice to the same level as Denny adjudicators can, and they frequently get adjudications wrong. You will of course be welcome at the Workshop regardless (once your teacher emails me beforehand, curses upon he who shows up without doing that) as our primary aim is to encourage all forms of debating in school. However, you should really consider stepping up into the big leagues and doing a real competition, run by people who know what they're doing and do it well.

Irwin

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually in our skool the mace and concern comps are for the experienced debaters!!!! they're the "BIG LEAGUES" as u so well put it!!!

Considerin they've been runnin for well over a decade each as well and have been really successful in gettin skools involved in debatin they cant be too bad!!

HeyYou · 02-10-2005 7:01pm

The Mace is all good, assuming it's the UCD or TCD Mace? No problems there. You're right in saying that Concern gets people involved in debating, that's true. However, here are the problems:

1) It's run by people who don't know debating and can't adjudicate as well as students who do it all the time, nevermind actually give decent advice.

2) The motions are only ever related to issues that Concern are, well, concerned with. This means that juicy issues like legalising prostitution, arming the gardai and the non-3rd world type things are all left out.

The Leinster Schools is now in its 22nd year of existence, and gets better every year. It's Ireland's largest non-sporting competition and is a huge amount of fun to be involved in. But, as I said, our primary aim is to encourage all forms of student debate: so if you want to come along to the workshop even if you have no intention of entering our competition we'll be delighted to have you along.

Irwin

Outcast · 02-10-2005 8:35pm

J Campion wrote:

I'm doin Denny, Mace, Concern and will probably get in some public speakin competitions too. Ah I do love TY!!! Flashling: ah go on, it's good craic, I did it last year, it's fairly daunting the first couple of times but it's worth it. Plus I'll be doin it. I rest my case. Do it!!!

Cool John, you're a debater. Rock on! How did you do last year?

We got a letter from The professional women of Ireland or something asking us to be in their competition. It's only for girls, you have only one speaker on a team of three and the adjudicators base their decision on diction and deportment. Sounds hilarious.

Anyone doing mental health?

Mr.D.Leprachaun · 02-10-2005 8:49pm

Has anyone called anyone else a master-debater on this thread yet? Please don't ban me.

the_red_cherry · 03-10-2005 9:25am

i' m on the school's debate team i don't know what competitions we'll be enetering yet definitely concern though and we'll see what else. i don't know why i torture myself like this though i am absolutely terrified of public speaking but it's like i think if i keep doing it it'll get easier it doesn't!!!

the evil lime · 03-10-2005 10:06am

It seems to me that the trick to all public speaking, debating, acting etc. is to stop giving a damn about anything, and everything, especially what may be going on in the heads of the audience. If only for a little while. It's always worked for me.

Flashling · 03-10-2005 6:51pm

I know exactly what you mean the red cherry! And after, you just hope and pray you didn't sound as stupid as you felt....I'm doing mental health Outcast! And I did the womens thing last year, it was as funny as it sounds! I was in the front row, and got spat on far too much by a girl telling us "we wouldn't be able to go see the polar bears in the zoo BECAUSE THEY'D ALL BE EXTINCT!" It was hilarious, yet....no, just hilarious!

Outcast · 03-10-2005 7:16pm

Flashling wrote:

....I'm doing mental health Outcast! And I did the womens thing last year, it was as funny as it sounds! I was in the front row, and got spat on far too much by a girl telling us "we wouldn't be able to go see the polar bears in the zoo BECAUSE THEY'D ALL BE EXTINCT!" It was hilarious, yet....no, just hilarious!

I did Mental Health last year but I'm not allowed this year coz I was in the National Final last year. Such a stupid rule! Mental Health is quite funny. Our first speaker (who was in CTYI) had this big story about her friend Grainne the bully but Grainne had never existed. You can do anything in the competition, make up stats or people, as long as you make Mental Health Ireland look good and say that 1 in 4 suffer frm depression.

That womens thing should be great. I'll have to resist the tempation to make a total mockery of it though.

J Campion · 08-10-2005 9:06pm

Congratulations to Irwin on a fantastically run day, well done. The FREE PIZZA was a great idea too. All in all a great day, very helpful.

HeyYou · 08-10-2005 10:52pm

Thanks a lot, it's always good to hear nice things back, I'm glad you got something out of it. Did you see my pizza tower? The empty pizza boxes stacked up were bigger than me...until they all fell over

Hope everyone who came along enjoyed it, I was delighted to see a few familiar faces there. Looking forward to seeing you all again when the first rounds kick off.

Irwin

Flashling · 09-10-2005 6:38pm

Yeah, it was really fun! And it gave me the biggest craving for mars bars.....I'm not complaining about the free pizza either!

Not related to the day at all, but why would a company call their own pizza company 4 star? IT MAKES NO SENSE. Why would they sell themselves short like that....?

Outcast · 11-10-2005 4:07pm

Do you have to be in TY to do that womens one?

TalkISCheap · 11-10-2005 9:34pm

I'm doing the Concern and the mental heath one. Oh, and the UCC PhilSoph one. And the UCC workshop. Hmmm... My poor, poor calendar...

HeyYou · 12-10-2005 7:47am

The UCC Philosoph convenor is really nice, should be a good competition.

Zounds · 16-10-2005 4:06pm

I am....I think

the_red_cherry · 20-10-2005 4:41pm

anyone from loretto college or newtown doing concern debates here? we're debating ye next

Love · 20-10-2005 10:07pm

Anyone debating in Trinity during the debate competitions, let me know, I'll probably be around so text me or something

HeyYou · 21-10-2005 10:03am

Just so you all know, the first round of the competition is starting on Monday October 24th. We're only holding four rounds in the first week, and the rest will be taking place after midterm. Make sure you keep an eye on the website over the next few weeks, and if you haven't got your application forms in yet please send them in asap. Best of luck!

Irwin

HeyYou · 02-11-2005 5:34pm

Hi all,

To anyone who has not yet sent entry forms in to us, please send them back as soon as possible. The next of the first rounds will be announced on Monday 7th November, with those debates taking place this following week as usual. Keep an eye on www.leinsterschoolsdebating.com for updates. And if you're from CUS, we haven't got a form yet, so send it in!

Irwin

Denny Leinster Schools Debating Competition

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