The Debate Goes On!
11 April 2025We have the Leinster (Irish) Debating crown…again… and we plan on holding it! And what has made St. Conleth’s such a perennial challenger for the Leinster, national and international titles? The last echoes of our sensational (and sensationalist) Senior Debates are finally dying away as some new (and some familiar) names will now be etched alongside all the past greats on the Kinlen and Gardner Cups and the Bouchier-Hayes and Francis John Barrett Plates. Our Auditor Emeritus Turlough Dineen (returning especially from the dreaming spires of Cambridge) ran a tight show, fitting two complete debates and the deciding of four trophies into one trifecta of periods, in the stylish surrounds of the KD Kelleher Wing’s Performance Hall. Gone of the days when the wall between Rooms 1 and 2 would be ‘rolled back’ and the resultant bear pit would bear witness to such raucous affairs that the US Embassy Marines would pay a flying visit.
Mr. ODulaing, who has always enjoyed the high-fallutin’ haranguing over the years, was on hand to present the Kinlen Cup to Anna Carroll. Our Principal (and the adjudicators) and everyone in an attendance were impressed by Anna’s logic, turn-of-phrase and pure debating class. Then, after a few breaths break, we launched into an impromptu debate on the merits of Artificial Intelligence. Hugo Sweeney and Brooke O’Connor took the team prize of the Bouchier-Hayes Plate and Finley O’Dea won the Gardner Cup for best (and most frenetic) individual speaker. We also proudly awarded the Francis John Barrett Plate for Best Maiden Debater to Peter Murphy, who did well to more than hold his own in both debates, surrounded as he was by Leinster finalists and, as a TY, showing great promise for the future!
