A team of young orators from St Patrick’s NS are through to the regional finals of the All Ireland Debating Competition following a thrilling county final in the Galway Education Centre last week.
Sixteen primary schools from Galway city and county took part in the debating competition, which took place over four rounds in recent weeks.
This competition is under the auspices of Galway Education Centre and debating coach Margaret Martin. The adjudicators are Sr Mary de Lourdes Fahy and Ailbhe Garvey-Hughes.
The first round took place on January 15; runners-up of that round debated on January 24 for a place in the quarter finals.
On January 28 the quarter finals took place in Oranmore Library with debates featuring Doorus NS v Lisheenkyle NS, Oranmore Girls v Baunmore NS, St Ita’s, Loughrea v Maree NS, and Claregalway Educate Together v St Patrick’s NS, Galway. Lisheenkyle NS, Baunmore NS, Maree NS, and St Patrick’s NS made it through to the semi finals.
“The generosity of spirit shown by teachers in guiding the students was inspiring,” said Margaret Martin, the coach of this debating competition. “Teachers worked out of school hours to bring debating to a very high standard.”
The final took place on February 14 at the Galway Education Centre. “Any second-level school would be proud of the standard of debating which we heard today,” adjudicator Ailbhe Garvey Hughes said at the event. The students from St Patrick’s NS won the debate, with Lisheenkyle NS very close runners-up.
The St Patrick’s team now goes to the regional final which takes place in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on February 25. We wish them the best of luck.
