Ireland wins world schools debate contest

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Ireland wins world schools debate contest

Ireland wins world schools debate contest
By Miriam Donohoe, Asia Correpondent

Ireland beat top-class teams from all over the globe to clinch the World Schools Debating Championship in Singapore yesterday.

The Irish team beat the reigning champions, Australia, in the finals of the prestigious contest proposing the motion: "The Media has become too powerful." This is the first time Ireland has won the contest. Two hundred and twenty top youth debaters from 28 countries across six continents took part.

Noel McGrath from the Catholic University School in Dublin, led the Irish team. The other members were Ross Kelly from McCartan's College, Monaghan; Barry Glynn from Gonzaga College, Dublin; Cian Murphy from CBC in Cork; and Stephen Coutts, also from CBC Cork. The Irish adjudicator, representing UCD's Literary and Historical Society, was Leo Mulrooney.

A jubilant team coach, Dick Wafer from Castleknock College, said last night that the victory was all the sweeter given that Ireland beat the reigning world champions. Ireland beat Britain in the semi-finals and Pakistan in an earlier round debating a motion on missile defence.

Four of the seven judges gave Ireland a winning vote.

The finals were attended by the Irish Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Brendan Lyons, and Ms Alma Ní Choigligh of the Irish Embassy in Singapore.

The championship was organised by The Debate Association (Singapore) and sponsored and hosted by the Singapore International Foundation.

A variety of issues were debated over the last 10 days of the competition, spanning a range of global and international issues from sports, trade, defence to media.

The debate allowed for lively discussion and the exchange of various points of view.

Congrats to the Lads- An excellent achievment when you think about it. Hopefully some of them might join up on the baords and enlighten us all!!
[Naturally the captain is from the best school in Dublin]

sceptre

Great achievement - congrats if any of them do come here

Interesting that Britain competes as a whole in the Schools - separated into Scotland, England/Wales at third level.

Kali

which all goes to prove that the irish are the quite simply the best in the world at talking absolute ****e.

D-Generate

Cian Murphy and Stephen Coutts both come from my school and both of them think that they are better than anyone else, and that was before they won. I'd hate to see them no.
Arrogant pigs

bonkey

Originally posted by D-Generate
Cian Murphy and Stephen Coutts both come from my school and both of them think that they are better than anyone else, and that was before they won. I'd hate to see them no.
Arrogant pigs

Given that they're world champions, I dont think its arrogance, and I think they have shown that in at least one respect they are better than anyone else.

Feckin' begrudgery....

Well done to the lads. Fair play.

jc

beardedchicken

Originally posted by 80project
[Naturally the captain is from the best school in Dublin]

wow! you must be the only person in the *world* who actually seems to like their school!!
that's gotta be a first!!

DadaKopf

Who cares.

neuro-praxis

I think it's a terrific achievement.

b20uvkft6m5xwg

Nobody asked you to reply gents!

I mean would you have prefered a headline...
"Irish Schools Team slip out of side entrance after being embarrassed at World Schools Debating Contest"

Just can understand it:rolleyes:

Well Said Bonkey & Neuro

[BTW, Bearded Chicken- IMO you are in the minority in holding that view:)]