Debating News 2009/10

St. Louis has a proud tradition in debating and this year is no exception. The Senior teams took part in the Leinster Schools’ Debating Competition run by UCD’s L&H and TCD’s Hist societies, while for the first time ever, the Juniors took part in the AIB/L&H debating competition in UCD.

The Juniors: Tiarna lavelle, Catherine Mackle, Aoife Hughes, Jacqueline Lambe, Zoe Vance and Maria Murphy, all from second year did extraordinarily well for their first attempt. The competition was of a very high standard and there were six rounds in all.

Tiarna and Catherine reached the quarter final stage as a team, with Catherine then going on to the semi-final. Jacqueline and Maria reached the quarter finals also and Jacqueline progressed to the semi-final. With motions such as ‘force feeding hunger strikers’, the girls showed flair and eloquence and tackled difficult motions with a confidence that belied their years. Well done girls!

The Seniors: Sinead Rooney, Rachel McMahon, Nicole McMahon, Meabh O’Connor, Nikita McGuinness and Jamie Rose McPhillips, also did well with Nikita, Jamie, Meabh and Nicole progressing to the quarter finals. Nikita and Jamie then went on to the semi finals and were just pipped for a final spot by Belvedere College. Again well done to all!

Model European Council

On Tuesday 24th March, three Fifth Years took part in a Model European Council debate in Dublin Castle. Thirty two schools from all over Ireland took part in the debate. The council was opened by the Czech ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Tomas Kafka, by Dick Roche TD and Mr. Martin Territt, the Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland. The debate was chaired by Ruairi Quinn TD.

Representing St. Louis were Sinead Rooney, Stephanie Greenan and Nikita McGuinness. The girls had to submit a five hundred word proposal on the directive that ‘all EU member states should produce 50% of their energy from renewable energy sources by 2020.’ The girls were selected to represent Romania in the Council. Prior to the debate the girls met the Romanian ambassador to Ireland. The debate was opened by Mr. Kafka and Mr Roche and then each member country put forward their position on the proposal. Stephanie was St. Louis first speaker and once all the first speakers had spoken, the debate was thrown open to the floor. A lively and interesting debate followed with the directive being narrowly rejected. Throughout Ruairi Quinn explained the procedure of the Council, so a very informative and educational day was had by all.

A live webcast was made of the debate, so go to www.eurireland.tv to see the full debate.

Special credit must also go to their mentor Mrs Kelly, who continues to devote an enormous amount of time and energy to debating and public speaking in St. Louis.

St. Louis success in debating

The Leinster Schools Debating competition has been going since 1983. The competition is one of the largest non- sporting secondary schools’ competitions in Ireland and St. Louis is proud of its record in the competition. Fifth and Sixth year students take part and in the 1980s and early nineties we reached several quarter finals.

Then in 2004 Josephine Curry and Aisling Ni Chaolain reached the final. In a closely fought contest, the girls emerged as runners up to a team from Gonzaga College. In the All-Ireland final they turned the tables on Gonzaga and won outright. They were invited to London to take part in the British Debating Union competition and again acquitted themselves very well. The following year Josephine with this time, Aisling Mohan, again got through to the final and again were runners up to Loreto, Stephens Green, but with Josephine being selected as best individual.

In the All Ireland, Josephine took the individual award. Josephine was then selected as a member of the Irish team for the World Schools’ Debating Championships in Stuggarth, Germany. Since then teams have made it to the semi-finals and currently two teams reached the quarter final and one team is through to the semi-final.

In 2007/2008 Transition Year Geography students took part in the Concern Debating competition under the guidance of Mrs. Corr and Mrs. Cahill. They researched and debated such topics as ‘Celebrity led campaigns do more harm than good in the developing world’.

This competition was operated initially on a league basis which ensured that all teams took part in at least three debates.

They met teams from St. Aiden’s Comprehensive, Cootehill, St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan and St. Patrick’s College, Cavan.

The experience proved to be very worthwhile and the girls benefited greatly

St. Louis has a long and successful career in Public Speaking and Debating. Transition year students take part in the Mental Health Public Speaking Competition. The girls have reached the Regional finals several times and in 1997 the All-Ireland final.